Spellbinding, magical, electric have been words used by internationally acclaimed musicians to describe Carter Johnson.
The 15-year old concert pianist may be heard Sunday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College. Carter hails from Campbell River and is undoubtedly the most gifted pianist to emerge from northern Vancouver Island in recent memory.
Carter began his piano studies at the age of five with piano teacher, Shelley Roberts. He advanced rapidly and at the very young age of twelve earned his grade 10 certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) achieving first class honours with distinction. Currently, he is completing his program for his ARCT in Piano Performance from RCM.
Carter has accumulated many awards for his young age. He has represented the North Island at the provincial festival for six consecutive years. He won first place at the 2009 and 2011 Canadian Class at the Provincial competition, and first in both the Ruth Scott Chopin Competition and the prestigious Virginia Graczak Competition in 2010.
Last summer, Carter was the single representative from British Columbia to a national competition held in Regina and sponsored by the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers. Despite being the youngest performer on the stage, Carter returned home with two first places and a second and a total of $4,500 in prizes.
One of the awards was the Willard Schultz prize for best performance of a baroque composition, in which he performed with the internationally acclaimed Gryphon Trio. Together they performed Canadian composer David McIntyre’s Piano Trio No.1.
McIntyre, in adjudicating the presentations, told Carter, ”You took lots of risks with my trio, and they paid off!”
Locals will recall that last year, Carter was the winner of the Strathcona Symphony’s Concerto Competition. He performed a Mozart Piano Competition with the orchestra in September. SSO conductor, Pippa Williams, spoke of Carter’s “professionalism” and “his positive attitude.”
Carter is enthusiastic for the program that he will present Sunday. The Bach, Prelude and Fugue in B flat, is “one of the most beautiful of the composer’s preludes and fugues.” The Beethoven Sonata Op. 31 #1 is rarely heard but is “charming and full of humour.” Ravel’s Jeaux d’eau is “virtuosity perfectly paired with lyricism.”
He will also be playing two works by Chopin and Variations for piano by the Canadian composer, Jacques Hetu.
This last work is in the modern idiom, which many listeners may find difficult. But Carter feels he has found a remarkable piece of music and is certain that he can convince the audience of its merits by playing it “tastefully and lyrically.”
The Comox Valley Piano Society is pleased to present this up-and-coming young concert pianist in their final concert of the season. Tickets are available at the Laughing Oyster Bookstore, Blue Heron Books and Videos ‘N More. For further information, see www.comoxvalleypianosociety or call Donna at 250-339-7782.
— Comox Valley Piano Society
