Celeste Johnson is Professor of Oboe at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where she is an active performer, pedagogue, clinician, and presenter. Before moving to Kansas City, she performed for eleven seasons as a member of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. Her career has taken her across the globe, including teaching and performing appearances in Japan, Colombia, Switzerland, the Isle of Man, Canada, and throughout the United States.
Professor Johnson continues to perform actively in a wide range of settings, including solo, concerto, chamber, and orchestral engagements. She has released two recordings on the Equilibrium label. Her playing has been recognized with top prizes at the Gillet and Barbirolli International Oboe Competitions, and she has earned fellowships to perform at renowned festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, Lucerne Festival Academy, Sarasota Music Festival and the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, among others.
Celeste is an active and engaged member of the professional music community, having presented at conferences including the International Double Reed Society, Midwest Double Reed Society, and a range of music education conferences throughout Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. She also serves as an Artistic Advisor for Summerfest, contributing to the creative direction and programming of the Kansas City-based chamber music series. Celeste holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
