Guy Johnston

Guy Johnston is one of the most exciting and versatile British cellists of his generation. He has made many important debuts including at the First Night of the BBC Proms playing the Elgar Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra/Slatkin, the Brahms Double Concerto in the Philharmonie with the DSO Berlin/Valchua, Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations with the St.  Petersburg State Capella Orchestra/Dmitriev in St. Petersburg, Elgar with the Osaka Philharmonic/Otaka in Tokyo, and the Schumann Concerto in the Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra/Tilbrook. Other collaborations in the UK have included Don Quixote with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain/Tortelier, Walton with the BBC Philharmonic/Tortelier, Dvorak with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Seal, Britten"s Cello Symphony with the Northern Sinfonia/Ticiatti, and Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 with the RTE National Orchestra/Altschuler in Dublin.

Born into a musical family, Guy joined his brothers in the world-renowned choir of King's College, Cambridge, where he recorded the famous carol Once in Royal David's City, under Stephen Cleobury. He went on to achieve early success through the BBC Young Musician of the Year title, the Guilhermina Suggia Gift, the Shell London Symphony Orchestra Gerald MacDonald Award and received a Classical Brit Award at the Royal Albert Hall. His mentors have included Steven Doane, Ralph Kirshbaum, Bernard Greenhouse, Steven Isserlis and David Waterman.

A founding member of the Aronowitz Ensemble, Guy is an enthusiastic chamber musician and has enjoyed appearances abroad at the Delft, Moritzburg, Spoleto, Gaia and Bad Kissingen Festivals as well as Cheltenham, Bath, and City of London Festivals at home with numerous musicians including Janine Janssen, Lawrence Power, Anthony Marwood, and with the Belcea, Endellion and Navarra String Quartets. 

Last season Guy worked on an education project with the Wigmore Hall, where he performs regularly. He was Principal Guest Cello of the Australian Chamber Orchestra on tour in Australia and concerto performances have included the Elgar Cello Concerto with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Michael Seal, Tchaikovsky"s Rococo Variations with the Northern Sinfonia at the Sage, Gateshead, the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Alexander Shelley at Cadogan Hall and in the St Magus Festival with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Sian Edwards, and works by Tavener and MacMillan with the Britten Sinfonia in King"s College, Cambridge. In addition, the last year saw Guy performing on tour in Japan and in festivals across Europe and South America and concerts as Guest Principal Cello of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Recent and future plans include performances with the Walton Cello Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/John Wilson, broadcast live to BBC Radio 3, the Elgar Concerto with Sir Roger Norrington, Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1 with the RSNO/Gamba and also with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and chamber music performances at Wigmore Hall, in Switzerland and Germany, and a continuing collaboration with pianist Melvyn Tan in a series of Beethoven Sonata cycles and recitals at the Chopin Festival in Mallorca, among many others. Guy is also Artistic Director of the Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival.

In addition to a busy and versatile career as an international soloist, chamber musician and guest principal, Guy is an inspiring leader of young musicians which was reflected in his invitation to meet Her Majesty the Queen at a reception at Buckingham Palace dedicated to young people in the performing arts. Guy is a patron of several charities which promote music education with schoolchildren and young people including Music First, and he also works in collaboration with the Musician"s Benevolent Fund. He is a Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music. 

Guy"s debut recital CD on Orchid Classics was been released to widespread critical acclaim. The disc includes works by Bridge, Britten, and a new work by Mark Anthony Turnage with pianist, Kathryn Stott. Other recordings include concertos by David Matthews and Edward Gregson for Chandos with the BBC Philharmonic/Gamba and BBC Concert Orchestra/Tovey. Future releases include the Moeran Cello Concerto with the Ulster Orchestra/JoAnn Falletta, and two works by Frederic d'Erlanger '“ Ballade and Andante Symphonique with the BBC Concert Orchestra/Wildner. David Matthews" imagining of Vaughan Williams" unfinished cello concerto Dark Pastoral with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Martin Yates was released last summer with Gramophone magazine describing Guy as "an impeccable soloist" and BBC Music Magazine observing: "Guy Johnston's playing is searchingly beautiful and accurate."

Guy plays a 1714 David Tecchler cello.

"Johnston has already forged a place as one of the country's most promising and distinctive cellists." -- The Strad

'œMr. Johnston's burnished and varied sound...'  -- The New York Times

http://www.guy-johnston.com/