Conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson: Born to Make Music

In 2005, JERI LYNNE JOHNSON made history as the first Black woman to win an international conducting prize when she was awarded the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. Since then she has continued to break barriers in Europe and the US as the first woman and/or African-American woman on the podium for many orchestras and opera companies in the US and Europe including the Bournemouth Symphony (UK), the Weimar Staatskapelle. Recent conducting engagements include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Sao Paulo Municipal Symphony Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera. Johnson was also selected to conduct the Pulitzer Prize winning composition “Stride” by Tania Leon as part of the composer’s tribute for the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors performance.
Johnson is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra. Established in 2008, Black Pearl combines artistic excellence, creative impact, and meaningful community engagement and has been recognized nationally and internationally as an award-winning leading innovator in establishing a culture of belonging in classical music. In January 2021, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra had the honor of being the only orchestra in North America invited to participate in a virtual collaborative concert as part of the World Economic Forum at Davos. This inspiring event called “See Me! A Global Concert” involved filmmakers, visual artists, choirs, orchestras and musicians from around the world.
Johnson is also civically engaged and has served on prestigious grant panels and Boards of Directors of a number of organizations including Einstein Health Network, the National Endowment for the Arts, New Music USA, the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science (the “Grammys”), the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and the Philadelphia Award.
Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in music and religion from Wellesley College in 1993, and a master’s degree in music history and music theory from the University of Chicago.
The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 9 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.
COMPULSION: 1:41 min.
COMPULSION: 1:38 min.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 1:52 min.
VALUES FIRST-RATE EDUCATION: 3:03 min.
DEVELOP A VOICE: 1:04 min.
SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 0:24 sec.
CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 2:33 min.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 8:21 min.
PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS: 3:32 min.
SELF-CONFIDENCE: 3:14 min
CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 1:33 min
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 3:51 min.
COMMUNITY VALUES: 2:34 min.
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:17 min
OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 5:21 min.
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 1:19 min.
CRITICAL THINKING: 2:38 min
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 0:42 sec.