Paul M. Somers recently told AfriClassical about Trent Johnson: “Dear Mr. Zick, It's time for you to learn of Trent Xavier Johnson, a wonderful classical composer and brilliant organist. He has chamber music, choral music with orchestra, and at least two concertos (trumpet; viola) which have been played as far away as Ukraine. This guy is the real thing. His trio for the Halcyon Trio can be purchased on that group's website. He is currently the music director at the First United Methodist Church, 1 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090”
Trent Johnson's website list 21 selected titles from his recent compositions, including: “In Homage of Spring (2009) for chorus, soprano soloist, and orchestra, written for the Oratorio Singers; Viola Concerto (2008), commissioned by violist Brett Deubner of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; Elegy (2008), a work for organ and string orchestra, premiered in Kyiv, Ukraine”. We have obtained a copy of the CD Halcyon Trio, Xtreme Medium HT 001 (2002). The other two composers represented on the disc are Alfred Uhl and Max Bruch. Trent Johnson is represented by his composition Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano. The liner notes by Paul Somers say: “Trent Johnson's intent in his Trio was to compose pure music with no story or extra-musical meanings attached.”
Trumpeter David Glukh of New York City tells us he too has recorded Trent Johnson's music: “Recently I have recorded a new exciting concerto for trumpet and orchestra by African American composer Trent Johnson (2004 recipient of the Vladimir and Rhoda Lakond Award in composition from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, in NYC). Premiere performance and recording of this piece took place in Kiev, Ukraine with Kiev Kamerata in April 2008.” An upcoming organ concert is listed on Trent Johnson's website: “June 2009, Trent performs a concert on the 4 manual, Warren/Casavant organ with violinist Alex Djokic at St. Paul's Cathedral, London Ontario, Canada.”
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