[3] Heyward grew up in West Ashley, South Carolina, and had no exposure to classical music at home.

His first public conducting opportunity took place in 2009 as part of Chamber Music Charleston's Mozart In The South Festival Youth Orchestra.

[6] Heyward studied conducting at the Boston Conservatory with Andrew Altenbach and then was assistant conductor for both the conservatory's opera department and the Boston Opera Collaborative, where he worked on productions of Puccini's La Bohème, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and Britten's The Rape of Lucretia.

In July 2022, the orchestra announced the appointment of Heyward as its next music director, effective with the 2023/24 season, with an initial contract of five years.

[2] In January 2025, Lincoln Center announced the extension of Heyward's contract with the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center through the summer 2029 season, with a change in his title to music director and artistic director of the orchestra, with immediate effect.