PT cellist earns national recognition for his ability
Kyle Johnson of Peters Township recently was nominated to perform in the National Association for Music Education – All-Eastern Orchestra, a competition that happens every two years that accepts only 20 cellists.
Kyle Johnson and Stephen McGough, the Peters Township High School orchestra director, talk before a recent concert.
It is not often that you can quiet a room of teenage musicians before a recent concert.
But Kyle Johnson can.
At the urging of Stephen McGough, the orchestra director at Peters Township High School, Johnson did just that. The music room grew quiet, and at the end of Johnson’s impromptu recital, he drew loud applause from his fellow orchestra members.
This was just one of the many rounds of applause Johnson has drawn and will receive as he moves toward his goal of becoming a professional musician, McGough said.
“At the high school level, it is not uncommon to come across a student who has become quite proficient on their instrument, having studied privately and put in consistent effort for much of their life,” McGough said. “This is not necessarily the result of musical talent, just hard work. However, every once in a while, you will come across a musician who is truly gifted. Anyone who hears Kyle play will know he is a fine musician, but a trained ear will pick up on the amazing depth of skill and maturity he demonstrates in his performance.”
Johnson, 17, who has been playing the cello since fourth grade, recently was recognized nationally for his musical ability. He was nominated to perform in the National Association for Music Education – All-Eastern Orchestra, a competition that happens every two years that accepts only 20 cellists. At the competition, he placed third.
That kind of success, however, has not gone to Johnson’s head. It is only a steppingstone toward his dream job of playing in a professional symphony.
“I am happy when I am doing anything with music,” said Johnson, the son of Kenneth and Kristen Johnson of Venetia. “I want to major in music performance.”
Johnson, who also plays the piano, said he was drawn to the cello because of its rich tone.
“They say, too, that the cello best emulates the human voice,” said Johnson, whose grandfather was a violinist with the Chicago Symphony.
With college on the horizon, Johnson said he is spending two to three hours a day practicing for school auditions. Schools that he is interested in include Peabody Conservatory, part of Johns Hopkins; Vanderbilt University, Duquesne University and Carnegie-Mellon University. He also is a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, South Hills Junior Orchestra and Penn String Quintet.
Johnson said his favorite composers include Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich.
“The cello is a fun challenge for me,” he said. “There is always constant improvement.”
McGough, his teacher, agreed.
“What is truly astounding is the fact that he is nearly as skilled a pianist as he is a cellist,” McGough said. “He is respected and admired by his orchestra classmates and is a good guy, too.”