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“…next-level trumpet wizardry”
About Connor
Connor Johnson is a trumpeter, composer, and educator with a commitment to new music and expanding the scope of the trumpet in a contemporary classical setting. He has received acclaim for his performances of landmark contemporary works including Lucia Dlugoszewski’s “Space is a Diamond” and Laurence Bitensky’s “Awake, You Sleepers!”, winning first prize in the National Trumpet Competition in 2022 for his performance of the latter. He has also received honors in international competition with the Michigan State University Trumpet Ensemble, which placed fourth in the International Trumpet Guild’s Chamber Music Competition in 2023 performing his own original composition for trumpet quartet, “Bitsch’s Brew”. Connor is an accomplished composer; a member of the Millennium Composers Initiative, his works have been recognized by groups including the St. Louis Chamber Project, the Sinta Quartet, and the National Youth Brass Band of America.
An ardent champion of collaboration, Connor has contributed to the creation of numerous new works for the trumpet as both a composer and performer through commissioning consortiums, his Double-Bell Trumpet Call for Scores project, and other collaborative initiatives to further the development of the contemporary trumpet repertoire. Connor’s passion for new music extends to his work as an educator, where he aims to provide students at all levels with experience performing the music of their time. He currently teaches with the non-profit organization Through the Staff, whose mission is to help students overcome barriers to music education by connecting them with quality, affordable music education resources, and the Columbus Saints Drum and Bugle Corps, where he is the Brass Caption Head for the 2024 season. Connor received his MM and BM from Michigan State University, where he studied with Justin Emerich, Heather Zweifel, David Biedenbender, and Zhou Tian.
