Emma Johnson began playing the violin at age 3. She is a prizewinner of numerous regional and national competitions, including the Stillman Kelley Instrumental Competition, Jefferson International String Competition, MTNA Young Artist Competition and the Colorado Young Musician’s Foundation. Emma has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Pikes Peak Philharmonic, Loveland Symphony Orchestra and the Littleton Symphony Orchestra.
As an orchestral violinist, Emma has toured in both Europe and Asia and has performed under the batons of conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Ludovic Morlot and JoAnn Falletta. Emma has held principal leadership positions with the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music Composers Orchestra, Chautauqua School of Music Orchestra, Chautauqua Institution Opera Orchestra, Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra and the Manhattan School of Music Lab Orchestra. Emma has also enjoyed performing with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Firelands Symphony, Mansfield Symphony and the Aspen Music School Festival Orchestras. She is currently a member of the New York based, Westside Chamber Players.
Summer programs and fellowships have enriched Emma’s educational experience, and include the Aspen Music Festival and School, Indiana University Summer String Academy, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.
Emma holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and she is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Principal teachers include Patinka Kopec, Ilya Kaler, Olga Kaler, Almita Vamos, Jan Mark Sloman and Margaret Pressley. Emma has received additional mentorship from Naoko Tanaka, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Stefan Hersh, Stephen Rose and Scott Yoo.