Music Director Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson

Michael studied at the Royal College of Music, London where his teachers included Hervey Alan for singing, Antonio Brosa for violin, and Herbert Howells and Anthony Milner for theory. He was Director of Music at two schools before being appointed Chief Music Manager for Leeds City Council in 1979. In Leeds he founded and directed Britain’s largest local authority music programme. During his eight years in the city he was Executive Director of the Leeds International Piano Competition and founder of the Leeds Conductors Competition.

Following his time at Leeds, Michael became General Manager at St David’s Hall, Cardiff and latterly Chief Executive of Plymouth Pavilions. While working in the south west, Michael Johnson was also Director of the University of Plymouth Choral Society and the South West Chamber Choir.

Since 2001 he has been based in Wiltshire where, in addition to a thriving teaching practice he was also visiting consultant in singing and piano at the University of Bath. In 2021 he retired as an examiner for ABRSM during which time he examined in more than twenty countries after 45 years service. Michael is also a member of the adjudication panel of the British & International Federation of Festivals and since 2013 has been Director of the Devizes Eisteddfod, an annual six-day competitive festival for young people.