About our Accompanist

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Reuben Johnson was born in New York, NY in 2000, and emigrated to Australia in 2013. After relocating to Brisbane, he began piano lessons with Mr. Oleg Stepanov. As a member of the Young Conservatorium’s Rising Stars program, he also received tuition with 2015 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition Winner, Ayesha Gough. Reuben Johnson is a versatile pianist from the lands of the Jagera/Turrbal peoples in Brisbane, Australia. Currently undertaking advanced studies with Timothy Youngat the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), Reuben graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music under the tutelage Oleg Stepanov. 

A keen soloist and chamber musician, Reuben has a particular love of the music of JS Bach. Throughout the last several years, Reuben has also received lessons and masterclasses from leading pianists such as Natasha Vlassenko (Russia/Australia), Daniel de Borah (Australia), Peter Hill (UK), Gil Garburg (Israel/Germany), Alexander Strukov (Russia) and Konstantin Shamray (Russia/Australia).

In 2019, Reuben received the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Audition Bursary, awarded to the applicant with the best audition in a particular instrument. In 2020, Reuben was awarded first prize in the university category of the Bolder Bach Festival’s Online Bach Competition, an international competition held during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was the only Australian prize-winner. In the same year, Reuben was also awarded the Margaret Anne Kerrison Pianoforte Prize, given to the student with the highest mark in their second year of studies. In 2021, Reuben was selected as a soloist for the Concerto Festival at the Queensland Conservatorium and was the winner of the Minnie May Bussey Prize.

In 2024 Reuben performed a concert with ANAM colleagues at Beleura House on the Mornington Peninsular - 150 Years of Rachmaninov. Later that year Reuben appeared as piano soloist in George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Melbourne Youth Orchestra at Melbourne Recital Centre, and performed in a series of concerts at the Australian National Academy of Music including  Renaissance and Baroque Stories 1: Masters of Venice as well as Encounters: Impressions and Encounters: Inflections at the  Primrose Potter Salon.

Reuben is also a keen improviser, and also enjoys singing baritone. Apart from piano, he also plays electric bass professionally. Before moving to Australia from the USA, Reuben was a member of the children’s chorus for the Washington National Opera’s 2011 production of Tosca, directed by Placido Domingo.

 Photo credit: Pia Johnson