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The Canadian pianist, Penny Lyn Johnson, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance with High Distinction from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York (1997-2001); her Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music (2001-2003); New York; and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music (2003-2007), where she received the Helen Cohn Award, given to an outstanding doctoral student.
Best known for her performances of the music of J.S. Bach, Penny Johnson is a frequent soloist at concert series around the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. A semi-finalist at the 8th International J.S. Bach Piano Competition in Würzburg, Germany (March 2013), she has participated in residencies at The Banff Centre in Alberta, where she was the recipient of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts. She has published online, an edition of the composer’s Two-Part Inventions (BWV 772-786) arranged for inverted voices, as well as the ending that she composed for the unfinished final movement of Art of Fugue (BWV 1080). In 2016, she released a recording of the complete Inventions and Sinfonias (BWV 772-786 & BWV 787-801).
As the creator of The Great Pianists: Stories, Music & More and New Adventures in Piano Listening, Penny Johnson is passionate about bringing unique and insightful experiences to lovers of piano music. Penny is also the creator of Glenn Gould 905: A Triple Birthday Multi-Media Celebration for The Chamber Music Society of Mississauga.
Known for her playful and passionate teaching style and extensive use of non-musical analogies and insightful stories, Penny Johnson is active as a teacher, adjudicator, coach and clinician. After her studies she worked at Steinway & Sons (August-December 2007), The Royal Conservatory of Music (September 2008-May 2009), and was Contributing Author for The Glenn Gould Foundation in Toronto (September 2008-May 2011). A former member of the College of Examiners at The Royal Conservatory of Music (2010-2015), she has held teaching positions at the Long Island Conservatory (part-time, from 2007), Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, ABC Academy of Music in York, Ontario (2008-2012), Canada Music Academy (2009-2012) and University of Regina Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Toronto (2012-2014), in addition to various community music schools in the greater New York City and Toronto areas. Her latest workshop entitled, "From the Pianist’s Toolbox: Techniques for Effectively Practicing the Music of J.S. Bach" has been presented at various locations around the GTA, including several branches of ORMTA and Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto, where, from July 2014 to 2016, she served as a sales representative and teacher liaison. She has also worked at the historic Steinway Hall in New York City. Previous adjudication and master class engagements have included the Peel Music Festival, Brantford Kiwanis Music Festival, various branches of ORMTA, The Beckett School at Laurier, The Royal Conservatory and the Regina Musical Club Competition. In addition to her private teaching, she is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, having adjudicated numerous festivals, including the Peel Music Festival and Beckettfest at Laurier.
Currently, Penny Johnson is at work on a book about her teacher, the American concert pianist, Constance Keene. In addition to her Glenn Gould blog, Further North, her articles have been published by Canadian Musician magazine and The Glenn Gould Foundation. She also serves as the Vice President of The Chamber Music Society of Mississauga. She resides in St. Catharines, Ontario. |
