Campbell River-born pianist Carter Johnson, inspired by the lively music scene of his hometown during his youth, has earned a spot among the top 30 competitors globally in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
This renowned classical music event, recognized as one of the most prestigious competitions in the genre, is set to take place from May 21 to June 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. The 28-year-old was selected from a global pool of 340 applicants from 45 countries.
Participating in the Van Cliburn competition, alongside the Chopin competition, has been a goal of his since he first learned about it as a teenager, Johnson said.
"Between the 140 total minutes of solo music and 80 minutes of concertos, all from memory, it is a huge undertaking to prepare for, but one that I am honoured and happy to do," said Johnson. He said he has chosen pieces of music he has performed over the past several years, which he said are the most authentic and accurate representation of himself.
"Regardless of the competition result, my participation in the Cliburn will always be remembered as a high point of my career," he said.
Johnson began piano lessons at the age of five, inspired by the encouragement of his grandmother. He went on to study for 12 years with music teacher Shelley Roberts, developing both skill and artistry.
"I never felt that growing up in Campbell River was anything less than a huge advantage in my musical education," Johnson said. "I was blessed to study with Shelley Roberts between the ages of five and 17, and couldn鈥檛 have asked for a more inspirational, expressive, and dedicated teacher. Many other excellent teachers, with whom I would have occasional lessons, as well as high-quality music festivals in the North Island, provided a well-rounded musical training."
His early musical growth was nurtured in 2010 when he won the Virginia Graczak Music Scholarship 鈥� a local initiative established by Susie and Michael Moscovich and administered by the Campbell River Friends of Music. As a youth, Johnson performed frequently across Vancouver Island, including at the Rotary Honours Concert in Campbell River.
After completing his undergraduate studies at UBC, Johnson moved to the United States to study at The Juilliard School. He now lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with his wife, Hannah, and two children, while completing his doctoral studies at the Yale School of Music.
A silver medalist in the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Carter has performed with major orchestras such as the Montr茅al Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Victoria Symphony Orchestra, among others. His performances have been featured by CBC Radio and medici.tv, with appearances in world-renowned venues like the Maison Symphonique in Montr茅al, 92nd Street Y in New York, Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall.
Johnson also performs regularly with Canadian classical pianist Angela Hewitt. He will be working with her in Perugia, Italy, this summer at the Trasimeno Music Festival, founded by Hewitt in 2005.
