Beverley Johnston
Adjunct Professor, Percussion
Education
- B.Mus, University of Toronto
Background
Beverley Johnston, O.C., is one of Canada’s leading percussionists. Over the years, she has commissioned and performed many works by leading Canadian composers some of which have become a staple of the standard percussion repertory around the world. In honour of her exemplary commitment to the performance of the music of Canadian composers, she has been awarded the distinction of “Canadian Music Centre Ambassador”. In 2024 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.) and was also inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
She has established her reputation beyond the border of her native Canada where she tours and performs frequently as a soloist and chamber musician and has recorded seven solo albums. She can be heard as soloist and chamber musician on many other recordings.
She has maintained an active schedule with her international travels performing at percussion festivals in the United States, Europe and Asia including the Ivan Bilic Marimba Week in Croatia (2017), The International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy in Europe (2013, 2015, 2023), the Shenyang International Percussion Festival in China (2010), The International Marimba Festival and Conference in Minneapolis, USA (2010), The Zeltsman Marimba Festival in USA (2005, 2009, 2013), the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (1988, 1995, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2022), the Stockholm International Percussion Event (1998) and the Journee de la Percussions in Paris, France (1999). The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity invited her to be a faculty member in the fall of 2016 and summer of 2024. For years she has been performing at different Canadian summer music festivals including the Festival of the Sound, Agassiz Music Festival, Music and Beyond Festival and The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, among others.
Beverley Johnston received her training at Vanier College in her native Montreal and studied with Russell Hartenberger at the University of Toronto, where she has been teaching since 1996. She is a Marimba One and Paiste Artist. For more information, please visit her on social media and at www.beverleyjohnston.com.