Travis Johnson
Frye Art Museum Recital Hall, 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-2019
Travis Johnson began his studies at the young age of seven, accompanying his own voice on an ukulele and practicing simple piano tunes. He moved away from those instruments when he began his guitar studies at eight years old with Peter Zisa, whom he stayed with for seven years. It was with Mr. Zisa in 2006 that Travis made the premier recording of a new commissioned piece by Bryan Johanson, as well as music by F. Tarrega, F. M. Torroba, and Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D Major. The Marylhurst Symphony, conducted by Lajos Balogh, invited Travis at the age of eleven to perform this concerto during their annual concert series, and in 2004, under the same baton, Travis was welcomed as a guest soloist with the Portland Festival Symphony. His performances with symphony orchestras are hardly limited to his hometown, as he has performed M. Giuliani’s Guitar Concerto in A Major op. 30 with the Reno Philharmonic and the California Symphony under the direction of Barry Jekowsky, both in 2007. After these fundamental studies, Travis studied with Michael Partington, whom he stayed with until he was accepted into the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Upon his entrance to the SFCM, Travis took lessons from David Tanenbaum. He currently studies with Adam Holzman at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music where he is pursuing a Master of Music Performance degree. He has enjoyed lessons and Master Classes from Jeremy Jouve, Marcin Dylla, Judicael Perroy, David Russell, Oscar Ghiglia, and Raphael Smits.
