The Official Website of Australian Pianist and Pedagogue Daniel Johnson
Biography of Daniel Johnson
Pianist, Daniel Johnson, has been described by Yamaha Australia as "masterful and insightful", and his Chopin described as "stunning" and "a true pianist" by the late, internationally renowned concert pianist, Dr. Marilyn Meier. Born and raised in Mount Isa, Daniel began piano lessons locally with Pam Breen. After winning the Yamaha Keyboard Award for Queensland and the Yamaha Most Outstanding Performer of the year in 2000, he commenced studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with Oleg Stepanov and Dr. Diane Selmon. He then continued studies at the School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland with concert pianists Wendy Lorenz, Renate Turini, Dr. Marilyn Meier, and at the conclusion of his degree with Helen Smith.
Daniel gives masterclasses, adjudicates, and examines for various piano competitions and eisteddfods across Australia. He has broadcast live recitals for the MBS network as part of the City Hall Recital Series in Brisbane and the New Sounds Recital Series at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. He has presented research papers for international conferences such as the Inaugural Messiaen International Conference and has been invited each year since 2009 to present research and perform at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia.
An advocate for Australian composers, Daniel has focused most of his academic research on the vocal, symphonic, and instrumental works of composer Miriam Hyde. He has piano works dedicated to him by Australian composer, Phillip Wilcher (Pirouettes, 5 Nocturnes for Left Hand Alone), and has given world premieres of piano works composed for him by American composer, Forrest Starling (Nocturne for Piano). He is currently recording piano works by Anthony Moles and Dr. Nicole Murphy, and later in the year performs the complete music for clarinet and piano by Miriam Hyde with clarinettist Catherine Motteram.
Daniel serves as a councillor, mentor, and artistic director of The Marilyn Meier Chopin Award with the Queensland Music Teachers Association (QMTA). He holds examination and performance diplomas from Trinity College (London), ABRSM, and the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) where he is also a senior examiner for piano, and a national/international examiner for Rockschool. Daniel has a Master of Music majoring in piano performance and analysis with distinction from the University of Queensland where he studied with Professor Max Olding. He has lectured in analysis/theory at UQ, where he is currently a PhD candidate researching and performing the works of Miriam Hyde and Sergei Rachmaninoff. When he isn’t busy practicing, he is working with students at his private studio The Artistry Labs: an audition-based program for advanced musicians in Brisbane.