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.
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Repertoire
Performance History
Contemporary
Repertoire
News
April 2024
April 2024
Adam Johnson returns to the Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke. Making his debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson conducts 5th performance of Riopelle Symphonique. Concluding his first season as Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads a program featuring the Korngold Violin Concerto.
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Adam Johnson returns to the Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke. Making his debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson conducts 5th performance of Riopelle Symphonique. Concluding his first season as Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads a program featuring the Korngold Violin Concerto.
March 2024
March 2024
Returning to the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads a performance of Mozart's Requiem and Andrew Balfour's etheral Pyotr's Dream.
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Returning to the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads a performance of Mozart's Requiem and Andrew Balfour's etheral Pyotr's Dream.
February 2024
February 2024
Returning to his educational mission, Adam Johnson collaborates with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 5 performances of Sportissimo, an educational program for teens drawing links between high-level athletics and music making.
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Returning to his educational mission, Adam Johnson collaborates with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 5 performances of Sportissimo, an educational program for teens drawing links between high-level athletics and music making.
January 2023
January 2024
Adam Johnson leads the Guelph Symphony Orchestra in a sold-out New Years Day tribute to Vienna, featuring music by the Strauss family, Lehar, Brahms, Bernstein, Gounod, and Puccini with soprano Midori Marsh.
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Adam Johnson leads the Guelph Symphony Orchestra in a sold-out New Years Day tribute to Vienna, featuring music by the Strauss family, Lehar, Brahms, Bernstein, Gounod, and Puccini with soprano Midori Marsh.
December 2023
December 2023
Celebrating Christmas spirit, Adam Johnson makes his debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra conducting 4 performances of the holiday classic Home Alone. The next day Adam Johnson conducts The Grinch Who Stole Christmas with the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois Rivières in Montreal's Théatre St. Denis.
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Celebrating Christmas spirit, Adam Johnson makes his debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra conducting 4 performances of the holiday classic Home Alone. The next day Adam Johnson conducts The Grinch Who Stole Christmas with the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois Rivières in Montreal's Théatre St. Denis.
November 2023
November 2023
Adam Johnson conducts the inaugural concert of the Collegium Musicum de Montréal, featuring Beethoven's Triumphant March from Tarpeja, Michael Haydn's Symphony no. 25, Mozart's Symphony no. 35, and Joseph Haydn's Symphony no. 101.
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Adam Johnson conducts the inaugural concert of the Collegium Musicum de Montréal, featuring Beethoven's Triumphant March from Tarpeja, Michael Haydn's Symphony no. 25, Mozart's Symphony no. 35, and Joseph Haydn's Symphony no. 101.
October 2023
October 2023
In his first main series concert as Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads Beethoven's 2nd Symphony, a work written while the composer plunged into a severe mental health crisis, and Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, which was the first work the composer wrote upon emerging from his own mental health crisis. In between the two works is Breathe by Carlos Simon. Sheng Cai is featured as piano soloist. Adam Johnson then repeats the program with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, featuring Thomas Yu as soloist.
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In his first main series concert as Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Adam Johnson leads Beethoven's 2nd Symphony, a work written while the composer plunged into a severe mental health crisis, and Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, which was the first work the composer wrote upon emerging from his own mental health crisis. In between the two works is Breathe by Carlos Simon. Sheng Cai is featured as piano soloist. Adam Johnson then repeats the program with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, featuring Thomas Yu as soloist.
September 2023
August 2023
Returning to the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Adam Johnson leads another production of Riopelle Symphonique for choir and orchestra. In his first main series concert since being announced as Music Director, Adam Johnson leads the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring Wagner's Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, Ravel's Tzigane and Massenet's Meditation with international violinist Kerson Leong, and Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony.
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Returning to the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Adam Johnson leads another production of Riopelle Symphonique for choir and orchestra. In his first main series concert since being announced as Music Director, Adam Johnson leads the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring Wagner's Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, Ravel's Tzigane and Massenet's Meditation with international violinist Kerson Leong, and Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony.
August 2023
August 2023
It is again with great joy that Adam Johnson has been named Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, his 2nd MD appointment of 2023. Adam Johnson makes his first appearance as Music Director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra leading a performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. Making his debut with the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Dr. Johnson leads the orchestra in two outdoor programs featuring 31 greatest hits. He also returns for a 4th year to conduct the Symphonie de la Virée as part of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra's annual summer festival.
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It is again with great joy that Adam Johnson has been named Music Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, his 2nd MD appointment of 2023. Adam Johnson makes his first appearance as Music Director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra leading a performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. Making his debut with the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, Dr. Johnson leads the orchestra in two outdoor programs featuring 31 greatest hits. He also returns for a 4th year to conduct the Symphonie de la Virée as part of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra's annual summer festival.
June 2023
June 2023
It is with great joy that Adam Johnson has been announced as Music Director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. The BRSO is the oldest arts organization in Louisianna and features a core of 72 musicians, with distinguished guest artists including Hilary Hahn and Yo-Yo Ma and many other top international stars.
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It is with great joy that Adam Johnson has been announced as Music Director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. The BRSO is the oldest arts organization in Louisianna and features a core of 72 musicians, with distinguished guest artists including Hilary Hahn and Yo-Yo Ma and many other top international stars.
