Biography
Cat Johnston is a trumpet/flugel player and brass teacher from Belper, Derbyshire who has studied in the UK and abroad, and completed her degree at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Her musical journey started with her playing the trumpet at the South East Derbyshire Music Centre and being taught by Kevin Holdgate. Since then, she has been on tour around many countries including Belgium, France, Switzerland, Japan and the USA with ensembles from the Derby area and further afield.
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At the RNCM, she studied with Murray Grieg and was a member of many ensembles such as the RNCM Jazz Collective and Big Band, Wind Orchestra, Chamber and Symphony Orchestra, Session Orchestra, Brass Band and also pursued other areas of interest such as singing in the Gospel and Chamber Choir. She was also a member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain outside of RNCM.
During her 3rd year of study, she travelled to Oslo, Norway and completed an Erasmus Exchange at the Norwegian Academy of Music studying with Tine Ting Helseth, Jonas Haltia, and Anthony Plog. She also joined a championship section wind band 'Vestre Aker Musikkorps' during her time there, and competed in Trondheim with the band at the Championships.
As well as working as a freelance musician and teaching, Cat Johnston currently plays flugel with Derwent Brass (a championship section brass band), Derventio Brass (a ten piece ensemble), and various orchestras and ensembles in the Derbyshire area.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, and being creative with other hobbies. She also loves to spend time with her two cats. Basil & Mabel.
Teaching is her passion and she hopes to inspire the next generation to keep making music!
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Doubling instruments?
I use lots of doubling instruments on a regular basis. These include:
Flugel & Cornet
Eb/D trumpet & C Trumpet
Piccolo trumpet
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I also play trombone to grade 8 level, & teach piano up to grade 3
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On a not so regular basis: Natural trumpet,
although I am hoping to get back to this soon!
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