Royal Opera House Appoints New Concertmaster

British violinist Magnus Johnston will step into the role

Of late, Magnus Johnston has made a number of appearances as guest concertmaster with London's Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (OROH), including works such as The Magic Flute, Theodora, Lohengrin, and Werther.

Johnston began his studies of the violin at Chetham's School of Music, having previously been a chorister in the renowned Choir of King's College, Cambridge. He then went on to the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with Christopher Rowland, Hugh Maguire, and Norbert Brainin.

He comes to the ROH concertmaster role from a position in the Navarro Quartet, who were recognized as BBC New Generation Artists and received an award from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust.

Johnston has appeared as guest concertmaster with a number of ensembles around the UK and further afield, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, ENO, Hallé, and both the Scottish and Australian chamber orchestras.

His first official performance at ROH will take place on September 30, 2023, as part of the Royal Ballet's season of Don Quixote.

"I am thrilled that Magnus will become part of the ROH family," said Antonio Pappano, the Music Director of the Royal Opera House. "His qualities as concertmaster were highlighted in the recent Werther production: beauty of sound, command, and a palpable dramatic sense."

"I’m delighted that Magnus joins the Royal Opera House as Concert Master, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge and I look forward to working with him in the coming seasons," said Koen Kessels, the Music Director of the Royal Ballet.