ADAM JOHNSON
Conductor
In the Press
Biography & CV
Thrilling audiences at the top levels of the Canadian music scene, award-winning Canadian conductor Adam Johnson has been praised as “an exciting talent” and for his “charismatic, commanding presence” on the podium. A highly-sought leader, he completed his training in his role as Assistant Conductor of the Montréal Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2018, and was appointed Resident Conductor for the 2018-2019 season. He collaborated closely with Music Director Kent Nagano on recordings for Decca and Analekta, and contributed to performances in Carnegie Hall, the Salzburg Festival, and a major European tour. He has conducted more than 65 concerts with the OSM and is frequently reengaged as a guest conductor.
Prior to his tenure in Montréal, Johnson served for three seasons with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, initially as Resident Conductor (2013-2015), and subsequently as Associate Conductor (2015-2016). He has also guest-conducted the Edmonton, Québec, Trois-Rivières, Saskatoon, Regina, Guelph and Thunder Bay symphony orchestras, as well as Symphony Nova Scotia, l’Orchestre du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, and l’Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire. Internationally he has conducted the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Staatsorhester Rheinische Philharmonie and members of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg.
Read CV
Complete
Repertoire
Performance History
Contemporary
Repertoire
News
May 2023
May 2023
At the invitation of the Fédération des Harmonies et Orchestres du Québec, Adam Johnson conducted a band featuring music teachers from across the province as well as the Royal 22nd Regiment and the trumpet section from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Johnson also continued his educational mission serving as an adjudicator for the FHOSQ festival.as well as the Festival et Concours de musique classique de Lanaudière.
Read More
At the invitation of the Fédération des Harmonies et Orchestres du Québec, Adam Johnson conducted a band featuring music teachers from across the province as well as the Royal 22nd Regiment and the trumpet section from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Johnson also continued his educational mission serving as an adjudicator for the FHOSQ festival.as well as the Festival et Concours de musique classique de Lanaudière.
April 2023
April 2023
Making his début with the Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke, Adam Johnson led Louise Farrenc's Overture no. 1, Tchaikovsky's Violin concerto with Kerson Leong as soloist, and Beethoven's Symphony no. 3 "Eroica". Returning to the Orchestre Classique de Montéal he also led a jazz program with music by Michel Legrand featuring soprano Sharon Azrieli. Returning again to the recording studio, Adam Johnson recorded the soundtrack for a major 10 year project soon to be announced in Paris. Continuing his commitment to music education, Dr. Johnson lead workshops for the Polyvalente Louis-St-Laurent (driving 5 hours to conduct an 80 min workshop!) and l'OSÉUM at the Université de Montréal.
Read More
Making his début with the Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke, Adam Johnson led Louise Farrenc's Overture no. 1, Tchaikovsky's Violin concerto with Kerson Leong as soloist, and Beethoven's Symphony no. 3 "Eroica". Returning to the Orchestre Classique de Montéal he also led a jazz program with music by Michel Legrand featuring soprano Sharon Azrieli. Returning again to the recording studio, Adam Johnson recorded the soundtrack for a major 10 year project soon to be announced in Paris. Continuing his commitment to music education, Dr. Johnson lead workshops for the Polyvalente Louis-St-Laurent (driving 5 hours to conduct an 80 min workshop!) and l'OSÉUM at the Université de Montréal.
March 2023
March 2023
Conducting 10 performances in a single week (18 services in all), Adam Johnson made his début with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens conducting Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 9 with Rosalie Asselin as soloist and Brahm's Requiem, while also conducting educational concerts in a retelling of Pinocchio with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In all 20,000 audience members were in attendance between the two programs. Returning to the recording studio, Adam Johnson also recorded the soundtrack for Cirque du Soleil's newest production, Echo. Making his début with the Orchestre Classique de Montréal, Adam Johnson stepped in with one day's notice to conduct Illuminations by Brian Cherney, Illuminations by Benjamin Britten featuring soprano Magali Simard-Galdes, and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, also by Benjamin Britten. The program was learned from scratch in a matter of hours before the first rehearsal, and the performance was highly acclaimed by both audience and orchestra.
Read More
Conducting 10 performances in a single week (18 services in all), Adam Johnson made his début with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens conducting Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 9 with Rosalie Asselin as soloist and Brahm's Requiem, while also conducting educational concerts in a retelling of Pinocchio with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In all 20,000 audience members were in attendance between the two programs. Returning to the recording studio, Adam Johnson also recorded the soundtrack for Cirque du Soleil's newest production, Echo. Making his début with the Orchestre Classique de Montréal, Adam Johnson stepped in with one day's notice to conduct Illuminations by Brian Cherney, Illuminations by Benjamin Britten featuring soprano Magali Simard-Galdes, and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, also by Benjamin Britten. The program was learned from scratch in a matter of hours before the first rehearsal, and the performance was highly acclaimed by both audience and orchestra.
February 2023
February 2023
Following the highly acclaimed release of the album Riopelle Symphonique, Adam Johnson gave 3 live performances with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Les Petits Chanteurs de Laval. The performances featured 140 musicians on stage along with dynamic exploration the visual art of Jean-Paul Riopelle for more than 6000 audience members in total.
Read More
Following the highly acclaimed release of the album Riopelle Symphonique, Adam Johnson gave 3 live performances with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Les Petits Chanteurs de Laval. The performances featured 140 musicians on stage along with dynamic exploration the visual art of Jean-Paul Riopelle for more than 6000 audience members in total.
January 2023
January 2023
Making his début with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson led Offenbach's overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, Ravel's Shéhérazade with soprano Hailey McAvoy, and Berlioz's epic Symphonie Fantastique. Furthering his educational mission to bring music to youth, Adam Johnson conducted and acted for 7000 youth in 5 bilingual educational concerts with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in a program called "Les mathématiques de la musique, featuring music by R. Strauss, Goulet, Rameau, Mahler, Bach, Bartok and finishing with the finale of Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony.
Read More
Making his début with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson led Offenbach's overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, Ravel's Shéhérazade with soprano Hailey McAvoy, and Berlioz's epic Symphonie Fantastique. Furthering his educational mission to bring music to youth, Adam Johnson conducted and acted for 7000 youth in 5 bilingual educational concerts with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in a program called "Les mathématiques de la musique, featuring music by R. Strauss, Goulet, Rameau, Mahler, Bach, Bartok and finishing with the finale of Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony.
November 2022
November 2022
Stepping in on short notice, Adam Johnson guest conducted the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in his 6th program of 2022 for a run of highly acclaimed educational concerts called "L'Orchestre sous toutes ses formes".
Read More
Stepping in on short notice, Adam Johnson guest conducted the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal in his 6th program of 2022 for a run of highly acclaimed educational concerts called "L'Orchestre sous toutes ses formes".
September 2022
September 2022
Presenting four 75-minute talks as keynote speaker of the Alberta Piano Teachers Association annual conference, Dr. Johnson continues his mission to raise the quality and quantity of music education for youth.
Read More
Presenting four 75-minute talks as keynote speaker of the Alberta Piano Teachers Association annual conference, Dr. Johnson continues his mission to raise the quality and quantity of music education for youth.
August 2022
August 2022
Adam Johnson returns to the Virée Classique of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal with performances with the Symphonie de la virée, conducting works by Claude Champange, Florence Price, Klaus Badelt and Arturo Marquez.
Read More
Adam Johnson returns to the Virée Classique of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal with performances with the Symphonie de la virée, conducting works by Claude Champange, Florence Price, Klaus Badelt and Arturo Marquez.
