James Johnston, piano
James Johnston is an American pianist and composer whose abilities range from fresh interpretations of the classic literature to new music, improvisation, and jazz. With degrees from the Juilliard School and Yale University, Mr. Johnston is active both as a solo performer and chamber musician. As a recent soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing Mozart's Concerto K.453, Mr. Johnston performed a different original cadenza at each of the four performances. Other appearances have included concerts at the Frick Art Museum, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and Princeton University, as well as concerto appearances with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Nova of Monroeville, and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in Interlochen, Michigan.
Highlights of Mr. Johnston’s new music activities include recent New York performances of Elliot Carter’s Double Concerto and John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music, solo performances of Nancarrow’s Canons for Ursula, John Adams’ China Gates, and Thomas Ades’ Darknesse Visible, and chamber collaborations with David Rakowski, Martin Bresnick, and the Minimum Security Composers Collective.
Mr. Johnston is co-founder of the chamber ensemble Proteus, winners in the Yellow Springs and Fischoff Chamber Music Competitions. After a sold out New York debut in 2001, the ensemble served a three year residency at the Aspen Summer Music Festival in addition to its busy touring schedule. This season’s concerts include a performance at the Walter Reade Theater as part of the Great Performers at Lincoln Center Series.
Mr. Johnston also performs with the new music group Fireworks, whose recent performances have included a concert of surrealist music at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the complete Berio sequenzas at the Tenri Cultural Institute, and performances of the group’s rock arrangement of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Knitting Factory. In addition to its season of concerts in New York, Fireworks has held residencies at the Oregon Bach Festival, the Hart School, and Williams College. Upcoming concerts include a portrait of Frank Zappa’s music at the Miller Theater at Columbia University.
As a composer, Mr. Johnston has written numerous solo and chamber works and was awarded national honors in the PTA Reflections contest for his Three Fantasies for violin and piano. Mr. Johnston has also arranged several works for his ensembles, including Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faune, Eric Dolphy’s Hat and Beard, and Gershwin’s Three Preludes.
Mr. Johnston recently completed his Doctoral Studies at the Manhattan School of Music. He currently lives in New York.
Jun Jensen, Cello
Caleb Burhans, Violin
Eileen Mack, Clarinet
James Johnston, Piano
David T. Little, Artistic Director
Ian Fry, Drumset
Daisy Press, Soprano
Taylor Levine, Guitar
Yuri Yamashita, Percussion
