News

Johannes is featured in “Where Music Grows”, a feature-length documentary directed by internationally award-winning filmmaker Katrine Philp and produced by Good Company Pictures. The film follows the artistic journey of a few musicians mentored at the Scandinavian Cello School over a five-year period, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on mentorship, ambition, and the shaping of a new generation of musicians.

Premiering in March at CPH:DOX, one of the world’s foremost documentary film festivals, the release marks Johannes’s appearance on the international film stage in a project that brings his work to audiences beyond the concert hall.

Live events on 14, 17, 21 March in Copenhagen, where Johannes will be present and performing: www.cphdox.dk

We are thrilled to announce that we have completed recording our debut album, Fairy Tales, with the Aparté label! This project has been a labor of love, bringing to life a collection of works that transport listeners into the magical worlds of beloved stories and legends.

Centered around Janáček’s Pohádka, inspired by the tale of Tsar Berendey, our album takes audiences on a journey through whimsical and deeply expressive narratives. From the playful mischief of Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne and Debussy’s Pierrot in his Sonata, to the haunting beauty of Sibelius’ Malinconia and Beethoven’s witty Magic Flute variations, Fairy Tales celebrates the power of music to spark imagination and emotion.

We cannot wait to share this album with you—stay tuned for more details on its release! Read more about the program here (link to program page with the fairy tale description).

Johannes made history as the first American cellist to win an award at the prestigious International Johann Sebastian BachCompetition in Leipzig, Germany earning the Second Prize, the Public Prize, and the special prize for a CD production. This marks an extraordinary achievement in one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious international music competitions.

The German label Genuin Classics awarded Johannes the CD prize not only from the pool of cellists but singers and organists who were also competing in the 2024 competition. This honor has typically not been offered to cellists. (www.genuinclassics.com )

What makes Johannes’ performance stand out even further is his versatility. Though primarily a modern cellist, Johannes chose to perform on both a modern cello and a baroque piccolo cello – a five-string instrument prescribed by Bach for some works – demonstrating mastery across styles in a competition dominated by baroque specialists. The competition is unusual because it focuses on the Baroque and Classical eras, with the most “modern” piece by Beethoven. In the final round, Johannes performed the A Major Concerto by CPE Bach – JS Bach’s son – leading the Pauliner Baroque Ensemble and JS Bach’s Sixth Solo Suite on the piccolo cello.

Organized by the Bach Archiv in Leipzig, the International Bach Competition is renowned for its focus on excellence in interpreting the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and is a career-defining stage for any young artist. Johannes’ ability to blend historical performance practice with modern virtuosity sets him apart as an emerging force in the classical world.