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Bruce Hurley Johnston
www.brucehurleyjohnston.com
bjohnst1@utk.edu
"The soul needs no healing, for it is perfection... therefore, music does not heal my soul... music heals my reality. And yet, music takes me to the edge... however, the edge is an awakening. Because true life for me exists on this edge of reality, I paint the air with music and give it to you."
Bruce is an award winning composer and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music holding a Bachelor of Music Composition degree. He grew up in Arkansas and was playing blues on Memphis' famous Beale Street by the age of 21. At the age of 25, he received a "Talent Scholarship" from Berklee based on his instrumental performance as well as his compositions. While in Boston, Bruce studied with composers John Bavicchi, Thomas J. McGah, and Arthur Welwood. Currently, he studies composition with Dr. Kenneth Jacobs at the University of Tennessee where he holds a graduate theory teaching assistantship. Bruce can be heard performing in the Southeast United States with various bands including "The Tennessee River Dogs" bluegrass group, "Cheating Spoon", The Mount Olive Baptist Church "Voices of Praise", and his fusion group "Tease Louise" of which he is guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and musical director.
Compositions:
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"Abstract Fusion" for jazz fusion quartet, (10'15")
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"The Bird-Trane Suites" for saxophone quartet, (5'01")
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"Can We All Feel Love Some Day" for guitar and baritone voice, (4'07")
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"The Crow's Dance" for flute, cello, and piano, (3'45")
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"Confucius" for jazz quartet, (5'30")
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"Dances of the Dreamer" for 5 piece percussion ensemble, (10'56")
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"The Duel of the Butterfly and the Ladybug" for flute, vibraphone, and harp, (5'00")
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"Fantasia for Electric Bass" for solo electric bass, (5'39")
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"From Beyond" for full symphony orchestra, (9'30")
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"Her Beautiful Music" for woodwind quintet, (5'05")
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"Meandering" for clarinet and piano, (6'06")
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"Micromovements" for string quartet, (8'24")
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"My Heart Won't Let Go" for guitar, cello, and tenor voice, (3'20")
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"Mystic Sonata" for solo piano, (18'31")
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"The Saga of Two Soul Mates" for guitar & electric bass, (3'34")
Achievements:
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April 2007 - "Meandering" for clarinet and piano is performed as part of the Clarinet Studio Concert at the University of Tennessee School of Music
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April 2007 - Appointed the Spring Resident Composer of the University of Tennessee Studio Orchestra
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April 2007 - "Earthbound Magic" / "Abstract Fusion" are performed at the Music from the Living concert at the University of Tennessee School of Music
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April 2007 - "Fantasia for Electric Bass" is performed at the Music from the Living concert at the University of Tennessee School of Music
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March 2007 - "Meandering" for clarinet and piano, selected for performance as part of the Southeastern Composer’s League Annual Forum at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.
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March 2007 - "Fantasia for Electric Bass" selected for performance as part of the College Music Society Mid-Atlantic Chapter Conference at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
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March 2007 - "Dances of the Dreamer" and "Fantasia for Electric Bass" selected for performance as part of the College Music Society South Central Chapter at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas
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February 2007 - "Fantasia for Electric Bass" selected for performance as part of the Society of Composers Region VI Conference at Central Missouri State University in Warrenburg, Missouri
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May 2006 - Jazz fusion piece "Abstract Fusion" is performed as part of The Little Tennessee River Music Festival at the Sequoya Birthplace Museum in Vonore, TN
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April 2006 - "My Heart Won't Let Go", "Fantasia for Electric Bass" as well as "Micromovements" performed as part of the New Music Concert at the University of Tennessee
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March 2006 - "Micromovements" is performed as part of the Southeastern Composer's League Annual Forum at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina
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February 2006 - Honored with an Award of Merit for Outstanding Student Composition at the College Music Society Southern Chapter Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico for his string quartet "Micromovements"
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March 2005 - Jazz works "Abstract Fusion", "Confucius", and "Freedom" performed as part of the Annual Spring Jazz Ensemble Concert at the University of Tennessee
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March 2005 - Jazz fusion piece "Freedom" performed as part of Percussion Night at the University of Tennessee
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December 2002 - "Fantasia for Electric Bass" was performed as part of the Annual Berklee Composer's Concert in Boston, Massachusetts
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October 2002 - "Micromovements" is awarded a performance in the Annual Esterhazy String Quartet Competition at Berklee School of Music Uchida Center in Boston, Massachusetts
- May 2000 - Awarded the Berklee School of Music Talent Scholarship
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