‘There is always hope’: How a childhood dream became a reality for Jonathon Heyward, the BSO’s new musical director

 In the June 2010 issue of Applause, his high school magazine, senior Jonathon Heyward wrote that by 2020 his “huge overall dream is to become music director of a major symphony orchestra.” “Well,” Heyward, said earlier this month, while visiting the Charleston County School of the Arts, “I was three years late. But here we are.” In September, Heyward will become the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s top baton. Since music director appointments are made years in advance, Heyward will likely be the only Black conductor leading one of the nation’s largest classical orchestras — and just the second in U.S. history. At age 31 this fall, he also will be the youngest.