We are thrilled to announce another UAlberta Music graduate success story! Adam Johnson, a piano performance graduate from UAlberta Music (BMus, 2001), has just been appointed to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra as their assistant conductor. Over the next two years, Adam will assist Kent Nagano-the symphony's Conductor and Musical Director since 2006-in rehearsals, recordings, and tours, as well as for educational initiatives and at the MSO's much-loved outdoor summer concerts. This illustrious position was awarded to Adam following his successful performance at the national auditions which took place in Montreal in September 2015.
As a leading orchestra in North America, this appointment is a very notable achievement as well as a milestone for a conductor at any stage of their career. Congratulations, Adam!
About Adam Johnson
Originally from Hinton, Alberta, Dr. Adam Johnson completed his undergraduate degree in piano performance at the University of Alberta, and continued his studies in Montreal. He holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance from the Université de Montréal and a Prize in Orchestral Conducting from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. He furthered his study at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Orford Arts Centre, and the Morningside Music Bridge in Calgary and has performed widely across Canada, as well as in France and Japan.
Adam spent two seasons as the Resident conductor of the the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and is the current Associate Conductor for this season. He has also guest conducted the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, where he will make another appearance next season. Adam toured in western Ontario with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and is the 2015 recipient of the Jean Marie Beaudet Award in Orchestral Conducting from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Highly in demand as a pedagogue, Adam joined the faculty of the McGill Conservatory in 2010, and the Université de Québec à Montréal faculty in 2013, and has taught a large studio of private students. He has also taught harmony, analysis, and chamber music, and translated a major treatise on harmonic analysis from French to English.
To learn more about Adam and his work, please visit adamjamesjohnson.com.