Scott Johnson Biography

A dynamic and versatile violinist, Scott Johnson is equally at home across a wide spectrum of musical genres. Classically trained from a young age, he has expanded his artistry to include folk, popular, and rock music, performing over a thousand times on acoustic-electric violin with an Irish rock band. While most at home on the classical stage, Scott has also built an extensive career in chamber, solo, and orchestral performance.

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Scott earned his Master of Music in Violin Performance from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and his Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University (SDSU). During his time at CSUN, he was a distinguished member of the Honors Quartet, performing as both first and second violin, and held leadership roles in the university orchestra as principal, associate concertmaster, and concertmaster.

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His professional journey includes solo appearances with choirs, collaborations with the San Diego Master Chorale and Los Angeles-based Tonality choir, and ongoing engagements with ensembles such as the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. He is currently a fellow of the California Young Artists’ Symphony. His latest recording project, Band of Wizards (2025), features collaborations with Aidan Neuman, Zack Cruz, and Addison Bennet.

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As a passionate educator, Scott is dedicated to guiding students on their individual paths toward musical mastery. He teaches violin and viola privately and serves as a coach for junior high and high school orchestras, including work with the Oak Park School District. His private studio is based in Thousand Oaks.

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Scott’s pedagogical lineage includes studies with Lorenz Gamma, Dylana Jenson, and Michael Tseitlin—mentors whose own teachers include luminaries such as Tibor Varga, Mark Kaplan, Nathan Milstein, Yuri Yankelevich, and David Oistrakh. Through this rich heritage, Scott continues the traditions of both the Russian and Franco-Belgian schools of violin playing, passing on their insights to the next generation.