Johan Smith
Biography
Winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) Competition in 2019 and described as the “Classical Guitar Revelation 2017” by the French magazine Guitar Classical Magazine, Johan Smith has performed at renowned festivals as both concert artist and soloist with orchestras including the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra and the Verbier Festival Orchestra. He is preparing his second album for Naxos (2020) and a tour that will take him to the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Carnegie Hall in New York.
His strong interest in contemporary music has led to collaborations with several composers, including Josquin Schwizgebel and Arnaud Fillion, who dedicated his Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra to him.
Born in Geneva in 1990, Johan Smith began guitar studies with Marie-Claire Pignolo and completed a Bachelor in 2015, followed by a Master of Arts in Instrumental Pedagogy in 2017 at the University of Music Lausanne under the guidance of Brazilian guitarist Dagoberto Linhares. In addition to teaching at the Conservatory of Morges (COV), he received in 2019 Switzerland’s highest academic performance degree, the Master of Arts specialising in Music Performance Soloist, awarded with the highest grade and the Special Prize Max D. Jost.
In a different artistic field, he is also the founder, composer, performer and graphic designer of the extreme metal band Stortregn, with which he has recorded four albums and toured internationally since 2005.
Awards
1st Prize, VIII Changsha International Guitar Competition (China)
1st Prize, XXXVII Guitar Foundation of America, Rose Augustine Grand Prize (USA)
1st Prize, VI International Guitar Competition Thessaloniki (Greece)
1st Prize, International Competition Fontenay-sous-Bois (France)
1st Prize, II International Competition “Révélation Guitar Classique” (France)
1st Prize, 89th Leopold Bellan International Competition (France)
1st Prize, XIII National Guitar Competition Ceyzeriat (France)
Special Prize for Best Interpretation of Joaquín Rodrigo’s Work, VIII Changsha International Guitar Competition (China)
Special Audience Prize, XIII Guitar Competition Ceyzeriat (France)
Special Prize Max D. Jost (Switzerland), 2019
3rd Prize, III Pleven International Guitar Competition (Bulgaria)
3rd Prize, I Aalborg International Guitar Competition (Denmark)
