Bio

Monica Johnston is a professional violist, violinist, and music teacher in Hong Kong.  

Originally from South Carolina, Monica took her viola and went off to explore the world!  She loves teaching, performing and traveling.

Monica started playing the violin at age 11. Beginning in her middle school orchestra, she went on to major in Music at the University of South Carolina (USC), with an emphasis in Music Education as well as a Viola Performance Certificate.  While at USC, she was named a Magellan Scholar and received an Undergraduate Research Grant to conduct research in Baroque performance in Prague, Czech Republic and Toronto, Canada. 

Always interested in teaching music and working with young children, Monica was introduced to the Suzuki Method, and has since received SAA training from Patricia D'Ercole, Carrie Reuning-Hummel, Carol Smith, Mary Cay Neal, and Lan Ku Chen.  Monica helped to create a Suzuki program at the USC Community Music Program and is currently teaching viola, violin, and Music Play! at KinderU Suzuki Music Academy in Hong Kong.

Monica is an active performer in Hong Kong. She currently plays with Western District, the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Early Music Ensemble, and the SAR Philharmonic Orchestra. 

She has performed with Die Konzertisten, the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, the Hong Kong Chamber Choir, the Hong Kong Ballet, and even international star Michael Buble here in Hong Kong!

In the past, she has played with the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra Augusta, the Spartanburg Philharmonic, the USC Symphony Orchestra, and USC Opera . She has performed in Italy, Austria, Canada, the United States, Hungary, and Hong Kong.

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When I'm not teaching or performing, I'm traveling!



I consider myself a lifelong learner--I'll never stop learning!  One way to always learn something new is to keep your mind open to new experiences.  Traveling helps me experience the world in different ways, through different cultures, different foods, different landscapes, and it keeps me inspired to see the things through a students' eyes, and to hear the world through a musician's ears.