Accomplishment

There are a lot of adjectives to describe the Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra, by Paul Creston. Here are two:

1. Fun!
2. Difficult beyond measure

I can understand more and more every time I rehearse the piece why it is such a standard of the percussion--more specifically marimba--literature. If you get a chance to hear it, do it!!

I finished my biography today. It is a longer version, meant for PR in a newspaper. Here it is:

"Jason Johnston is currently pursuing a bachelor degree in percussion performance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, studying under David Bessinger. While studying percussion for little over a year, Mr. Johnston has performed many works for marimba, including the famous Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra by Paul Creston. His debut CD, entitled “Independent Thinking”, was just released this past summer.

Born in 1986, Mr. Johnston has resided in Oklahoma for over ten years. While playing cornet, euphonium, and snare drum throughout middle school, high school, and the first half of college, Mr. Johnston made the decision to change to percussion entirely in the fall of 2006. It is a decision he never regrets.

Later this fall, Mr. Johnston will perform at Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa California. Along with his friend and accompanist, Dr. Dennis Widen, and two professors at Azusa, Mr. Johnston will be premiering a work for marimba, piano, trumpet, and cello.

In addition to performing, Mr. Johnston is also a composer, having won two competitions with a choral arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision” and an Adagio for Strings. The latter composition will be performed by the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra in the 2008-2009 season.

As a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, it is Mr. Johnston’s hope and desire that wherever he performs, he can benefit someone’s life, and inspire them in whatever they do—be it music or anything else."


So that's that. I'll do the short bio, meant for programs, tomorrow.

-J