Biography
“Johnston has already forged a place as one of the country’s most promising and distinctive cellists.” (The Strad)
Guy Johnston has become a fast-rising star on the international concert stage after making an extraordinary debut in London at the BBC Proms where he played the Elgar Cello Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
Since then, Johnston has enjoyed a number of recent successes with the London Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchester der Hessischer Rundfunk, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Osaka Philharmonic, St.Petersburg Academic Symphony, Gavle Symphony, Lithuanian National Philharmonic and regular tours to Japan. Conductors he works closely with include Yan Pascal Tortelier, Daniele Gatti, Leonard Slatkin, Robin Ticciati and Alan Burbayev.
Upcoming Highlights
Highlights for his forthcoming seasons includes Britten Symphony for Cello and Orchestra with Northern Sinfonia / Robin Ticciati, Elgar Cello Concerto with Philharmonia Orchestra / Stephen Cleobury, Brahms Double Concerto with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Juraj Valcuha, Walton Cello Concerto with Royal Philharmonic / Tod Handley, Shostakovich Cello Concerto no.1 with the City of Birmingham Youth Orchestra / Martyn Brabbins and a tour of the UK with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra / Alexander Dmitriev.
Johnston is also a committed chamber musician. In recital, present and future engagements include the Wigmore Hall, Berlin (Deutschland Radio), Louvre, City of London Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bridgewater Hall (Manchester Midday Society), Moritzburg, Delft, Music in Great Irish Houses, Sligo Festival and collaborates with Kathy Stott, Charles Owen, Huw Watkins, Tom Poster and Finghin Collins. He is also a founder member of the Aronowitz Ensemble who have recently been invited onto the prestigious BBC New Generation Artists Series.
Awards
Born in 1981, Johnston began cello lessons at the age of five. He studied with Steven Doane at the Eastman College of Music in Rochester, New York and subsequently continued his studies with Steven Isserlis at IMS Prussia Cove and Ralph Kirshbaum in the UK. Awards include winner for the BRIT award for Best British Newcomer in 2002 (for the recording of Karl Jenkins’ Armed Man – Mass of Peace, Virgin Classics), BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2000 as well as Shell/LSO Gerald Macdonald Prize, Musicians Benevolent Fund Award and Suggia Gift. He is also regularly heard on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.