CLIBURN FINALIST and HONENS PRIZE WINNER | Ep. 32 - This is the Legend of Carter Johnson
In 2025, he competed in 3 Grand Slams of piano.
In May of 2025, he won 1st prize at the Dublin International Piano Competition.
5 days after winning Dublin, he competed and became a finalist at the Cliburn International Piano Competition by June of 2025. He accomplished this despite suffering from an injured right arm!
4 months later, in October of 2025, he won 2nd prize at the Honens International Piano Competition.
Meet Carter Johnson. From his roots in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, to his journey on numerous competitions over the years, Carter has become a legendary pianist. Join Amos Vang and Carter Johnson as they discuss Carter’s preparation and mindset for the world’s most renowned piano competitions, the essence of musicality, the importance of adapting to unforeseen circumstances, and the importance of music and arts education in Canadian youth.
Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
Other music by Amos Vang
#honens #cliburn #carterjohnson #neurorecital #verbier #chopincompetition #classicfm #neuroscience #piano #janinafialkowska #classicalmusic
-- CHAPTERS --
0:00 – Introduction
3:19 – What inspired Carter Johnson to pursue piano? How has the music culture on Vancouver Island influenced Carter Johnson?
4:08 – What were the most important lessons that Carter Johnson learned from Shelley Roberts, his teacher?
5:30 – The importance of teaching and learning
9:15 – Carter Johnson studied music at the University of British Columbia
15:46 – Carter Johnson on Schubert and his lieder
16:45 – Music requires well-roundedness
18:40 – Carter Johnson pursued a Master of Music at Juilliard and a Doctor of Musical Arts at Yale School of Music
19:52 – Carter Johnson performed, and STILL PERFORMS, with Angela Hewitt!!!
24:15 – What were the most important lessons that Carter Johnson learned from Angela Hewitt?
29:13 – What inspired Carter Johnson to compete in the Dublin International Piano Competition?
30:41 – Carter Johnson’s road to winning 1st prize at the 2025 Dublin International Piano Competition
35:39 – The 2025 Van Cliburn Competition took place just 5 DAYS AFTER CARTER JOHNSON WON DUBLIN!
38:13 – Carter Johnson explains the importance of maintaining a good COMPETITION MINDSET!
46:41 – The situation that pianists face with competitions and careers
50:19 – Carter Johnson’s competed at the Cliburn…WITH AN INJURED ARM??!!!
57:54 – What were the most important lessons that Carter Johnson learned from the Cliburn?
1:02:12 – What inspired Carter Johnson to “Hone In on Honens”?
1:04:13 – To what extent had Carter Johnson’s experiences at Dublin and at the Cliburn influence his strategy at Honens?
1:05:59 – Carter Johnson’s approach to “Fracture” by Iman Habibi
1:11:06 – Carter Johnson’s journey through Honens
1:14:54 – What is musicality to Carter Johnson?
1:17:04 – What is the Complete Artist to Carter Johnson?
1:18:45 – What are the greatest misconceptions that Carter Johnson has heard from other people about classical music?
1:24:14 – What’s the point of learning music?
1:31:39 – What are the most rewarding aspects of Carter Johnson’s career? What are the most important lessons that Carter Johnson has learned from his career?
1:33:18 – What’s next for Carter Johnson?
1:33:53 – Carter Johnson’s advice for aspiring classical musicians, and remarks towards his fans!