Student Oboist to Perform at Fairfax Concert

Olivia Johann, an accomplished high school oboe player from Centreville, Virginia, is the featured soloist for the May 13 concert of the City of Fairfax Band, 7:30 pm, WT Woodson High School. She is the winner of the band’s annual Young Artist Competition and will receive a financial award along with the solo appearance.

Since 2015 Johann won first place at the Friday Morning Music Club Ross-Roberts competition, and the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto, Virginia Music Teachers Association (MTA) Concerto, Northern Virginia MTA Concerto, and Asian American Music Society competitions. She also placed second at the Music Teachers National Association Southern Division in South Florida after winning the Virginia state tier, and was a finalist for the Marine Band and the Army Orchestra competitions in both 2016 and 2017.

Now in her third year with the American Youth Philharmonic, the young oboist has performed in district bands and a senior regional orchestra, and was invited to participate at concerts with the US Army Orchestra and the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in addition to her upcoming appearance with the City of Fairfax Band.

A junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Johann first fell in love with the sound of the oboe as a six-year-old listening to the classical music station in her mother’s car. She explains, “I thought the oboe had the most beautiful sound and such a pure tone.” The Centreville resident insisted on playing the oboe when the opportunity arose in the fifth grade at Greenbrier West Elementary School and has continued in school band through Rocky Run Middle School and at Jefferson.

She credits much of her success to teacher, Trevor Mowery, oboist in the Marine band; former teacher, Dr. Yeong Su Kim, who is past conductor of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington; and accompanist, Dr. Jeongseon Choi.

At Jefferson, along with her pursuit of music, Johann was instrumental in reviving the poetry club, and particularly enjoys studying physics, English, astronomy, and philosophy. She relishes performing at benefit concerts, raising funds for local charities, mentoring elementary school kids with science experiments, helping peers with writing assignments, and competing in poetry recitation tournaments and writing contests. She admits, “I love teaching!” and anticipates that her future will involve some form of teaching.

Since 1996, The City of Fairfax Band Association has sponsored its Young Artist Competition to encourage the development of stand-out high school musicians who plan to pursue a musical career. More information about the competition is available on their website: https://www.fairfaxband.org/young-artist-competition/

At the May 13 concert, Johann will perform the “Oboe Concerto in C Major” by Joseph Haydn. She will share the spotlight with legendary US Air Force Band conductor and World War II hero, Col. (ret) Arnald Gabriel. The concert, “Legends of the Air,” begins at 7:30 pm, in Bedinger Auditorium, at WT Woodson High School, 9525 Main Street, Fairfax. Tickets are available at the door or online at https://www.fairfaxband.org/ .