Jonny Best

PIANIST and ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of Northern Silents

Jonny studied piano at Chetham’s School of Music and drama at University of London - and the combination of music and dramatic storytelling has run through his career ever since. As well as founding and leading Northern Silents, Jonny is one of the UK’s leading improvising silent film pianists, performing across the UK and internationally. 

Before coming to silent film, Jonny worked in theatre, opera, arts festivals, and classical music. His first professional work was playing piano for cabaret in London and New York, and keyboards on the original West End production of Les Miserables. He went on to work with the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Bridewell Theatre, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North, Aurora Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Radio 3. Jonny has led arts festivals in Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, and Newcastle, commissioning and producing more than a hundred new projects across music, dance, theatre, live and visual art.

Jonny has a PhD in music and researches contemporary and historic silent film accompaniment practices. Jonny is a Clore Fellow.

For Northern Silents’ 2025 spring/summer season, Jonny will accompany Phantom of the Opera, Au Bonheur des Dames, La Divine Croisière, Blackmail, and South.