Lakeland College

Arthur T. Johnson, D.M.A. is Associate Professor of Music at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he heads the piano performance and pedagogy major, teaching applied piano, piano pedagogy and literature, and accompanying; he also oversees the instruction of class piano, music theory, and music theory lab, and teaches classes in these areas. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Music degree at Brigham Young University.

Mr. Johnson is a much sought after instructor of piano. His students have won first prize (2008, 2005), second prize (2004), and honorable mention (2007) in the Wisconsin State level of the Music Teachers National Association Senior and Junior Piano Competitions; first prize in the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition (2007); second prize in the finals of the National Federation of Music Clubs Stillman-Kelly Audition (2007); second prize in the Lee Biennial Piano Competition (2008); first prize (2004) and second prize (2006 [junior and senior]), and Honorable Mention (2004) in the Junior and Senior Polish Fest Chopin Competition in Milwaukee; first prize (2008) and second prize (2004) in the Carroll College High School Piano Competition; first prize in the Ruth De Young Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence competition (2006); first place (2007 [2 divisions], 2004 [2 divisions]), and Honorable Mention (2006, 2002, 2000) in the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Badger Keyboard Competition. His reputation as a teacher has resulted in invitations to adjudicate for the Lawrence Academy Piano Competition (2007), the Washington County Concerto Auditions (2007), and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Badger Keyboard Competition (2007, 2006, 2005, 1999).

Since studying jazz piano with Joan Wildman in Madison, Wisconsin and classical improvisation with Mária Apagyi in Budapest, Mr. Johnson has become a specialist in classical-based improvisation pedagogy. Incorporating classical improvisation into all his teaching subjects, he has given presentations and workshops on this topic at the College Music Society National Conference, the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Conference, and the College Music Society Great Lakes Region Annual Conference. He has also lectured on teaching techniques, the learning process, and the life and music of Hungarian composer András Viski. He produced the compact disc Elismerés, which is a recording of works by András Viski performed by Mr. Johnson and Lakeland College voice and piano students. This cross-curriculum project involved students from graphic arts and marketing for designing the CD brochure and promoting the performance of the works at the Stephanie H. Weil Center.

In addition to the invitations to adjudicate and lecture, Mr. Johnson's honors include being named the recipient of the Lakeland College Grant for Faculty/Student Collaboration in Research and/or Performance (2006), recipient of Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Local Member of the Year Award (2005), recipient of University of Wisconsin-Madison Vilas Travel Grant (2001), winner of University of Wisconsin-Madison Concerto Competition (1999), and winner of Leonard Pennario Piano Performance Award (1989-1992). He is an active performer of solo and collaborative piano music, having performed in Europe, Australia, and the United States. He has performed with the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wind Ensemble, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Symphony Orchestra, and in the Krueger Fine Arts Series. He has performed with cellist Perry Karp and sopranos Helen Boatwright and Debra Rentz among others.

Mr. Johnson is an active member of College Music Society and Music Teachers National Association and its affiliate state and local associations. His favorite works that he has performed are Bartok's First Piano Concerto, Debussy's Cello Sonata, Bach's Toccata in E Minor, Chopin's F Minor Fantasy, and Serenade by András Viski. He is married with two children and lives in Howards Grove, Wisconsin.