Jonathon Heyward Renews Contract with the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center

Jonathon Heyward’s contract as the Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director will extend through the 2029 season

In addition to a contract extension through the 2029 season, following Jonathon Heyward’s inaugural season as Music Director of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, Artistic Director is being added to his title, effective immediately. The

Formerly known as Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, the rebranded orchestra performs every summer at New York's Lincoln Center as part of the Summer for the City programming. The ensemble's aim is to give accessible and engaging concerts that feature both traditional classical music repertoire and new music.

Last season, the ensemble premiered two commissions from New York-based composers Huang Ruo and Hannah Kendall. Across the next two summers as part of Summer for the City, Heyward will lead commissions by three living composers.

The 2025 Orchestra season will culminate with the commission by James Lee III, the current Composer-in-Residence with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra — where Heyward also serves as Music Director.

Two commissions will be featured in the 2026 season: a Double Concerto by Billy Childs for Anthony McGill and Demarre McGill, and a Cello Concerto by Jessie Montgomery for Abel Selaocoe.

“I feel such a profound connection to the musicians of this Orchestra and am thrilled to be continuing this chapter,” said Heyward. “My inaugural summer in 2024 was truly special—filled with extraordinary music-making and incredible moments that can only happen in a city like New York. I look forward to many more summers forging new ties across campus and the city at large. Together, we will continue to grow and explore time-tested repertoire alongside new discoveries, deepening the unique sense of community that exists inside the concert hall. This is just the beginning.”

This summer also sees Heyward’s continued exploration of Robert Schumann’s four symphonies through the lens of mental health, presented in collaboration with Jameel Arts & Health Lab, established with the World Health Organization (WHO). He leads the Festival Orchestra in Schumann’s Fourth Symphony in 2025 and Schumann’s First Symphony in 2026.

Additional highlights of the 2025 season include the continued collaborations with the New York Philharmonic through their Very Young Composers Program (VYC) and the New York City Public Schools’ Summer Arts Institute (SAI).

The  “Symphony of Choice” concert will also return, which gives audiences the opportunity to vote on the evening’s program, choosing from a menu of repertoire from the summer season ahead.

“Lincoln Center was founded on the belief that the arts are for all, and Jonathon’s leadership of this Orchestra reflects this promise,” said Mariko Silver, President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “From dynamic repertoire spanning composers old and new to inspiring audiences of all ages, we look forward to many more summers with Jonathon at the helm of this great Orchestra.”