Nicholas Johnson

Cellist Nicholas Johnson (they/he) strives to create meaningful art at local levels through collaborations which cross genres. As a recipient of the 2023 St. Botolph Club Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award, they commissioned and recorded a new suite of music inspired by the cosmos by Mason Bynes and Jingmian Gong, building upon Toru Takemitsu’s “Orion” for cello and piano (to be released Summer 2024). They perform and record with Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Odyssey Opera,  and in the 2022-2023 season returned to their native state of Florida as guest principal of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. 

In recent seasons Nicholas has performed with Boston Public Quartet, Semiosis Quartet, Winsor Music, and Juventas New Music. With these ensembles and the contemporary sinfonietta Sound Icon, he regularly works with young composers at Berklee College of Music, RWU, and MIT to workshop and record their new music. Nick has soloed alongside Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, members of the Silk Road Ensemble, and Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble performing Chen Yi’s Suite for Cello and Chamber Winds.