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A charismatic performer and an outstanding musician, Canada’s premiere percussionist Beverley Johnston is internationally recognised for her virtuosic and dynamic performances on a wide range of percussion instruments. Her exciting performances have been distinguished as non-conventional, effectively combining classical transcriptions, contemporary music and a touch of theatre. She has captivated audiences across North America and overseas with her personal charm and her unique style, and her performances and recordings have been broadcast on radio networks all over the world. She has released three solo CDs: IMPACT and ALTERNATE CURRENTS on the Centrediscs label, and MARIMBACH on the CBC Records Musica Viva label and is presently working on her fourth solo recording. She can also be heard as soloist or chamber musician on numerous other recordings. In 1990, Beverley Johnston was a solo performer at Japan’s Expo ’90. Since then Ms. Johnston has repeatedly toured across Canada. She has performed the North American premiere of Japanese composer Maki Ishii’s powerful work "AFRO CONCERTO" with the Esprit Orchestra, a triumphant end to their Tenth Anniversary Season, and two concerti with the CBC Vancouver Orchestra written especially for her by Canadian composers Gary Kulesha and Patrick Cardy. In October 1994, she secured a BBC Audition that was termed an "outstanding success" by the BBC Jury. She has made several successful appearances at the Winnipeg New Music Festival performing her own improvisational piece entitled "CENTRE" which she developed especially for the Festival and more recently a virtuosic concerto by Canadian composer Omar Daniel with The Hannaford Street Silver Band. This work is one of the featured pieces on the band’s latest recording entitled "Heavy Metal". At the 1994 Guelph Spring Festival she performed the world premiere of Michael Colgrass’ outstanding new work "TE TUMA TE PAPA" with subsequent performances all over the world. In the 1995/96 season, Ms. Johnston toured the Canadian Maritimes with Debut Atlantic, was showcased at the renowned International Percussive Arts Society Convention in Phoenix, Arizona and was also the subject of an hour-long documentary on CBC TV’s nationally broadcast "Sunday Arts and Entertainment". Her performance on this program was nominated for a GEMINI award in the "Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program" category. Highlights of the 1996/97 season include the world premiere and numerous concert performances of Canadian composer Christos Hatzis’ FERTILITY RITES for marimba and tape as well as a studio recording of the work for an upcoming CD of Hatzis’ Inuit inspired works called FOOTPRINTS IN NEW SNOW. The 1997/98 season has seen Ms. Johnston tour England, Norway and Sweden and was invited to perform a solo recital at the prestigious Ford Centre in North York, which was an outstanding success. In October of 1998 she was invited to perform at the Stockholm International Percussion Event which included many of the world’s finest percussionists and she toured with American pianist Michael Arnowitt throughout Northeastern United States and Ontario. Other guest solo appearances included the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, the Scotia Festival of Music and the Vancouver New Music Society. In November of 1999 she was the Canadian representative at the renowned Journees de la Percussion in Paris, France.Beverley Johnston received her training at Vanier College in her native Montreal and at the University of Toronto, where she studied with Dr. Russell Hartenberger, a member of the percussion ensemble NEXUS. REPERTOIRE Contemporary Solo Repertoire
Traditional Solo Repertoire Traditional snare drum marches Selected works of JS Bach transcribed for the marimba by Beverley Johnston Selected marimba etudes by Clair Omar Musser Works by Gordon Stout and Keiko Abe for the marimba Several arrangements of various types of folk tunes for the marimba Several arrangements of Piazzolla tangoes for Percussion a Solo Repertoire with Orchestra
*=composed for Beverley Johnston Repertoire for flute and Percussion
DISCOGRAPHY Solo cd's: IMPACT (1986): Percussion with electronics(with James Campbell, clarinet)
MARIMBACH(1989): Music of J.S. Bach arranged for marimba
ALTERNATE CURRENTS(1992): solo percussion works by Canadian composers
Guest spots: PERSUASION: THE CONTEMPORARY ACCORDION(1996):
PATRIA (1996): R. Murray Schafer's Amente Nufe
CHROMA (!991): Kevin Volans' She who deeps with a small blanket
STRANGE CITY (1988); Henry Kucharzyk's Beating
REGARDING STARLIGHT: NEW MUSIC FOR VIRTUOSOS (1993)
Soon to be released: FOOTPRINTS IN NEW SNOW: Inuit-based compositions by composer Christos Hatzis
HEAVY METAL: works featuring Canadian soloists with the Hannaford Street Silver Band
MEMORIES OF THE. SEASHORE: Solo works for marimba and percussion with special guest artists, Susan Hoeppner (times) and Michael Amowitt (piano) IMPACT (1986): Percussion with electronics(with James Campbell, clarinet)
MARIMBACH(1989): Music of J.S. Bach arranged for marimba
ALTERNATE CURRENTS(1992): solo percussion works by Canadian composers
Guest spots: PERSUASION: THE CONTEMPORARY ACCORDION(1996):
PATRIA (1996): R. Murray Schafer's Amente Nufe
CHROMA (!991): Kevin Volans' She who deeps with a small blanket
STRANGE CITY (1988); Henry Kucharzyk's Beating
REGARDING STARLIGHT: NEW MUSIC FOR VIRTUOSOS (1993)
Soon to be released: FOOTPRINTS IN NEW SNOW: Inuit-based compositions by composer Christos Hatzis
HEAVY METAL: works featuring Canadian soloists with the Hannaford Street Silver Band
MEMORIES OF THE. SEASHORE: Solo works for marimba and percussion with special guest artists, Susan Hoeppner (times) and Michael Amowitt (piano) IMPACT (1986): Percussion with electronics(with James Campbell, clarinet)
MARIMBACH(1989): Music of J.S. Bach arranged for marimba
ALTERNATE CURRENTS(1992): solo percussion works by Canadian composers
Guest spots: PERSUASION: THE CONTEMPORARY ACCORDION(1996):
PATRIA (1996): R. Murray Schafer's Amente Nufe
CHROMA (1991): Kevin Volans' She who deeps with a small blanket
STRANGE CITY (1988); Henry Kucharzyk's Beating
REGARDING STARLIGHT: NEW MUSIC FOR VIRTUOSOS (1993)
Soon to be released: FOOTPRINTS IN NEW SNOW: Inuit-based compositions by composer Christos Hatzis
HEAVY METAL: works featuring Canadian soloists with the Hannaford Street Silver Band
MEMORIES OF THE. SEASHORE: Solo works for marimba and percussion with special guest artists, Susan Hoeppner (times) and Michael Amowitt (piano) CRITICAL RESPONSE "Johnston has the rare ability to make a collective battery of percussion sing...Johnston’s virtuosity delivered a celebration of the percussion family, but always as a part of an effective, perceptible musical structure."
" ...played with a subtlety that is not typical among percussionists."
"Critically, the high point of the evening was the dazzling, frequently virtuosic performance by percussionist Beverley Johnston."
"...a whiz bang player with the soul of a poet...one of the most original and creative artists of our day."
"Rhythm and sweetness in a beautiful blend."
"What a marimba player! And what a percussionist!"
"This beautifully recorded disc (Impact) makes a strong case for the expressive and technical abilities of Beverley Johnston"
"Dancing to the beat of her own drum...Johnston’s like a panther on stage, moving from one instrument to the next in clean, fluid gestures so that every movement, including the ones that don’t evoke the sounds, makes a difference."
"...one of the world’s top contemporary percussionists..."
For Booking Information Contact LONG REACH FINE ARTS: Telephone: (514) 485-8220 E-mail: john@longreachfinearts.com Send mail to suzanne@longreachfinearts.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
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BIOGRAPHY