Meet pianist Carter Johnson of the Grand Piano series

If Harry Potter were a tousled redhead, Carter Johnson could have been him for Halloween.

Instead, after three years of music lessons, he dressed up at the age of eight as a concert pianist with a cardboard piano strapped to his shoulders and a top hat perched on his head.

The whole getup must have been just as winning then as the Canadian pianist is today.

Early on, his parents ensured their children’s lessons in piano and speech arts, both of which gave young Carter eight years of competition experiences in a hometown Vancouver Island festival.

Over those years, he would weave increasingly complex presentations of poetry, prose, dramatic scenes and improvisations, which molded his current identity as an artist eloquent in both music and speech.

Johnson went on to hone his musical skills, earning a Bachelor of Music at the University of British Columbia, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School and a Master of Musical Arts at Yale, where he continues as a doctoral post-resident. His elocutionary skills won him a diploma with distinction in speech and drama from Trinity College London.

After gathering a bouquet of first prizes in international competitions over the last five years, as well as such recent laurels as first-ever Canadian finalist in the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, silver laureate in the 2025 Honens International Piano Competition, first in the 2025 Dublin International Piano Competition and silver in the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Johnson is closing the competition chapter of his life to focus on the solo recitals on which he thrives.

With playing described as “sincere, communicative, and intelligent,” “drop-dead gorgeous,” even “the greatest thing since sliced bread” (Gramophone), he’s noted for making classical music speak, in words and music, to all kinds of audiences.

In the face of doomsayers pronouncing the death of classical music, he holds that its future lies not in somehow making recitals “more fun” but in taking a storytelling approach shaped by his eclectic education.

Johnson’s unique skill set was recognized in the semifinal of the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition, where he was awarded Best Program Presentation for his overall program design and verbal introductions.

“It’s a special passion of mine,” he said, “to find additional ways of inviting audiences into the music, whether with a story about the composer’s life, how the music is built, or a meaningful experience I once had with the music. I enjoy dreaming up what to say and then discerning what speaks most to people.”

In this he is perfectly in tune with Grand Piano Series’ increasingly popular Narrative Musicales, led by the series’ own storytelling pianist, Konstantin Soukhovetski.

Pianist Carter Johnson

7 p.m. Jan. 15, Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples.

Purchase tickets ($63) at grandpianoseries.org or artisnaples.org.

Call Artis—Naples at 239-597-1900 for assistance.