Karen Johnson is an award-winning teacher who is dedicated to the idea that learning should be fun!  Prior to coming to the Dayton area, Karen lived in Tennessee, where she received an Outstanding Teacher Award from the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts.  Also in Tennessee, her students were chosen as Principal and Assistant Principal Viola in the Tennessee All-State Orchestra.  Since moving to the Dayton area, her violin and viola students have received full music scholarships to the Eastman School of Music (2020), Indiana University (2020), Miami University (2018), and Wright State University ((2019) and have participated in the Dayton Philharmonic Junior Strings, Youth Strings and Youth Orchestra (DPYO).  In the  DPYO several of her students have been chosen as Principal Viola, and in 21-22 one of her violin students was selected as Concertmaster. Additionally,  in 2021 her student was chosen as a finalist for the David L. Pierson Concerto Competition held by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Karen's teaching style reflects the influence of the many teachers she has had, including Heidi Castleman (Juilliard School of Music), Mimi Zweig (Indiana University), Yitzhak Shotten (University of Michigan) and Robert Culver (University of Michigan). She has also had Suzuki training with Mimi Zweig, Ronda Cole and Martha Shackford.  

 

As a performer, Karen is currently 3rd Chair Viola with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra,  was Assistant Principal Viola with the Knoxville (TN) Symphony Orchestra for 9 years, sat Principal with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Spoleto, Italy (1995, 1997), and was a featured soloist with the North Carolina School of the Arts International Music program in Germany and Italy. She received her Master of Music at Rice University and her Bachelor of Music at Indiana University.  

 

Karen loves to teach and over the years has taught beginning, intermediate and advanced students ranging in age from 4--70 years old.  She looks forward to meeting you!