Johnston, Malcolm

Violist who attended the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

He spent some time in the States in the 1990s, where he was a teaching assistant at Louisiana State University and became a member of the Amernet String Quartet. They took home gold at the Tokyo International Chamber Music Competition in 1992 and became the quartet-in-residence at Cincinnati College’s Conservatory of Music, in addition to touring in Australia and Europe.

In 1996, he returned to England and became the sub-principal violist with the London Symphony Orchestra. Other groups with whom he has worked include the European Union Youth Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Members of the LPO including Malcolm gave a recital at Wigmore Hall on 10^th June 2009. Their program comprised excerpts from “Duos (44) for Two Violins, SZ 98/BB 104” by Bela Bartok, “Grand Sextet for Piano and Strings in E flat major (Gran sestetto originale)” by Mikhail Glinka, “Quartet for Flute and Strings No. 1 in D major, K. 285” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and “Sextet for Strings in A major, Op. 48/B 80” by Antonin Dvorak.

On 3^rd July 2009, he was one of five LSO musicians to participate in the City of London Festival at Liverpool Street Station where they performed music of the British Isles, including a cracker version of “Toss the Feathers”.

The LSO presented an all-Mahler concert at Lincoln Center on 27^th February 2011 which featured the Austrian master’s “Adagio” from “Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor” and “Symphony No. 9 in D major”.

On 19^th February 2012, they delivered the European premiere of Andre Previn’s “Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra” with soloists Yuri Bashmet and Anne-Sophie Mutter, with the composer conducting. It was sandwiched between Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring—Suite” and John Harbison’s “Symphony No. 3”.

Malcolm and pianist John Alley and clarinetist Chi-Yu Mo entertained in Jerwood Hall at LSO St. Luke’s on 25^th May 2012 when they interpreted selections from Max Bruch’s catalogue as well as Mozart’s “Kegelstatt Trio”.

On 10^th June 2012, John and Malcolm joined forces with cellist Daniel Gardner, double bassist Tom Goodman and violinist Rhys Watkins in the same venue for a rendition of Franz Schubert’s “Trout Quintet”.

Recordings on which Malcolm appears include: Bach to Brubeck, The Dust Bowl Symphony, Holst: The Planets, John Adams: A Flowering Tree, Music of Hope and Symphony No. 1 Inspired by The Lord of the Rings by Johan de Meij with the LSO; Fresh Aire 8 by Mannheim Steamroller; Ideale: Songs of Paolo Tosti by Ben Heppner; Morton Subotnick: And the Butterflies Begin to Sing with the Amernet String Quartet; Slideling by Ian McCulloch; and the soundtrack of The Tillman Story, with music by Philip Sheppard.

He performs “Toss the Feathers” here with other members of the LSO…

Sources:

Johnston, Malcolm

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