Carl Johnston

Carl Johnston is a veteran Chicago performer and educator. He has taught violin and viola privately for the past 45 years at the University of Chicago Laboratory School, DePaul University, American Conservatory of Music, VanderCook College of Music, Amundsen High School in Chicago, IL, Munster High School in Munster, IN, Lincoln Hall Middle School in Lincolnwood, IL, Sandburg High School in Orland Park, IL, and currently at his Tinley Park home studio and the Music Connection in Orland Park, IL. His performance experiences range from Concertmaster of the Mozart Sinfonia, Associate Concertmaster of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and Illinois Philharmonic, and former concertmaster of the Northwest Indiana and Dubuque Iowa Symphonies. Mr. Jhonston is a former member of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic, Vienna Waltz Ensemble and Lake Forrest Symphony. He is a current member of the Chicago Sinfonietta and substitute with the Chattanooga Symphony. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, Lyric Opera, American Chamber Symphony, Joffrey Ballet and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. Mr. Johnston has appeared as soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, China and Korea. Mr. Johnston served as concertmaster and section player for the Chicago “Broadway” Musical Productions at the Candlelight, Goodman Auditorium, Marriott, Drury Lane and Chicago Theaters. In the “Pop World” Mr. Johnston has shared the stage with Donna Summer, Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, Sheena Easton, Kenny Rogers, Manhattan Transfer, Moody Blues, Electric Light Orchestra, Rod Stewart, John Denver, Frank Sinatra Jr., Red Skelton, Eddy Arnold, Dianne Carroll, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boy’s Chicago, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, The Dixie Chicks, Andy Williams, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Olivia Newton-John, Denny Osmond, Michael Feinstein, Doc Severinsen, Judy Collins, Peabo Bryson, Carol Lawrence, Don McLean, Vic Damone, Clay Aiken, Allison Krauss, Martina McBride, Wyonna Judd, Barry Manilow and Celtic Woman. Mr. Johnston’s teachers include Paul Post, Raymond Niwa, Dorothy Delay and Yuko Honda. He received his BM and MM degrees from the Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Mr. Johnston can be heard on 40 classical and Jazz CD’s including “Flourish” with the Vienna Waltz Ensemble.