CPO names new conductor

MUSIC • The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has a new resident conductor who should feel right at home. That’s because his new gig will be a homecoming of sorts for Adam Johnson, who grew up in Hinton. Johnson was named the CPO’s resident conductor Thursday.

Johnson comes to the symphony from Montreal, where he spent the 201213 season as the assistant conductor of l’Orchestre philharmonique des musiciens etudiants de Montrel (OPMEM). He’s also a classically trained pianist who has performed at venues across Canada, as well as in France and Japan. He holds a doctorate in piano performance from the Universite de Montreal and Prize in Orchestral Conducting from the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal.

“The audition process reminded us of the wealth of musical talent that exists in Canada,” says Heather Slater, CPO director of artistic planning. “Adam is an outstanding young artist, and we are thrilled to be welcoming him to our podium.”