Graham Johns - Percussion
Graham is the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Percussion player and joined the Orchestra in 1983.
Q. What is your instrument/ position/ job title in the Orchestra?
A. Section Leader Percussion
Q. When did you join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra?
A. September 1983
Q. What was your earliest musical experience?
A. Hearing my brother torture a violin. I joined the guitar club at age 6 and began piano lessons aged 10. Later I began cello lessons and 'graduated' to the timpani during high school.
Q. If you could play a different instrument, which one would it be?
A. Definitely the french horn, although I did play the cello to Grade 6 - which I really enjoyed. I have dabbled on the euphonium and tenor horn too. I even taught myself the harmonica (mouth organ) which I was honored to play with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam - in Symphony No. 1 by Peter Schat in 1978 - specially composed for the 80th Birthday Celebrations of the orchestra, with Sir Colin Davis conducting.
Q. What would you most like to do if you weren’t a musician?
A. Anything of an outdoor nature. I love vegetable gardening and chopping wood. I was going to be an architect at one point - but got my big musical break at age 19 - winning the Principal Timpani position in the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, where I stayed for three enjoyable years before moving to Amsterdam.
Q. What’s on your record/CD/MP3 Player/Spotify Playlist right now?
A. I am currently listening to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev with Libor Pesek conducting - the orchestra (especially the percussion section!) sounds terrific! Also La Mer by Debussy - played by the Boston Symphony under Charles Munch - beautiful cymbal playing by the legendary Tommy Thompson - Surely the most Sensitive, Sensuous cymbal Sounds of the Sea you'll hear anywhere!
Q. What is your favourite Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra recording?
A. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev with Libor Pesek . I've yet to hear our new Shostakovich 12 with Vasily Petrenko, but I think it's going to be pretty hot - judging by the intensity of the recording sessions we had!
Q. What is your most memorable moment with the orchestra so far?
A. Playing Gitamalya for Marimba and Orchestra by Takemitsu - live on Radio 3, or maybe playing the complete Vaughan Williams Symphonies with Vernon Handley, or should I say the Shostakovich Symphonies with Petrenko, or... when shall I stop??
Q. What do you like to do with your free time outside music?
A. Being at home with my family, DIY around the house, gardening and eating out with friends.
Q. What do you like most about Liverpool?
A. I love the huge range of restaurants. I love Liverpool One - what an amazing development! I love all the good things that have happened in the last few years because of Capital of Culture. It makes this Kiwi very proud to call himself an honorary Scouser!
