CJ Johnson

Principal Double Bass

CJ Johnson was born in Michigan and earned his Bachelors from Valparaiso University and Masters from Georgia State University.  His primary teachers were Brian Ferguson, Chicago Lyric Opera, Emory Clements, Atlanta Opera, and Mark Morton, Texas Tech University.  Upon graduation, he spent two years on cruise ships playing music.  Since then, he has played with numerous orchestras in the southeast, including Columbus (GA), LaGrange, Charleston, Greenville, and Tallahassee.  While freelancing in George, he started working with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra as Orchestra Manager and Principal Librarian.  

CJ moved to Austin in 2016 to become the Performance Librarian for the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music.  As Librarian, CJ is responsible for providing music for all BSoM ensembles.  While working at UT Austin, he is also Orchestra Librarian for the Central Texas Philharmonic and the Abilene Philharmonic.  He is also in demand as a freelance Double Bassist around Central Texas.  

When not playing music, CJ enjoys relaxing with his family and friends in downtown Georgetown.