Colleen Matheu Johnson is a flutist and principal piccoloist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra. Prior to Ms. Johnson's appointment with the Houston Ballet, she performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony in Michigan as principal piccolo for three consecutive years. She was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Arkansas Symphony, and has had the opportunity to perform with many fine ensembles including the Chicago Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Houston Grand Opera.
Ms. Johnson completed her graduate flute and piccolo performance studies with Walfrid Kujala in June of 2003 at Northwestern University. She received her bachelor of music degree in flute performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Michel Debost and Kathleen Chastain.
Ms. Johnson has received scholarships from Oberlin College, Northwestern University, among other institutions. She has won prizes in the Musicians Club of Women Annual Music Scholarship Competition, the National Flute Association's Young Artist Piccolo Competition, the Society of American Musicians Competition, the Texas Music Festival's Young Artist Concerto Competition, and received the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra's scholarship as well as the Chicago Federation of Musicians scholarship. In 2005, Ms. Johnson was one of three americans selected who performed as a semi-finalist in the Jean Pierre Rampal Flute Competition in Paris, France.
Ms. Johnson performed as principal piccoloist with the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin in August of 2010 and as a guest flutist in 2012. She has also concertized in the US and abroad, performing solo, chamber, and orchestral recitals at the Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto USA Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, the Texas Music Festival, the Henry Mancini Institute, Domaine Forget Summer Institute, among others. She has appeared on Chicago's WFMT 98.7FM as a soloist on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series as well as Houston's KUHF 88.7FM, "The Front Row" with her chamber ensemble, The Oberon Ensemble. In July of 2014, she will perform on the Musician's Club of Women Recital Series at Preston Bradley Hall at Chicago's Cultural Center. She will also perform Bohuslav Martinu's, "Madrigal Sonata" at the National Flute Association's 2014 Convention in Chicago during the month of August.
Ms. Johnson has been a masterclass clinician at the Texas Music Festival and Stephen F. Austin State University. She was also the professor of flute and music appreciation at Lone Star College Montgomery. Ms. Johnson is currently on the flute and piano faculty at The British School of Houston and maintains a private flute and piano studio in the Houston Heights neighborhood. She is the founder and has served as the artistic coordinator of the Houston Flute Club Young Artist Competition.
In her free time, Ms. Johnson enjoys spending time with her husband, violinist of the Houston Symphony, Kurt Johnson, as well as their three year old daughter, Allegra. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, traveling, reading, exercising, and baking.
Benefits of a Quality Music Education at Colleen Matheu Johnson Music Studio
- Learn the art of performance with Colleen Matheu Johnson; a flutist who has performed with some of the country's most prestigious orchestras including, The Houston Symphony, The Chicago Symphony, and The St. Louis Symphony
- At least one recital guaranteed throughout the academic calendar year.
- FREE tickets to various Houston Ballet and Houston Symphony performances!
- Complimentary Flute Talk Magazine subscription to all students presented on a monthly basis.
- 30, 45, and 60 minute lessons offered with flexible days and times.
- Students of all ages, interests, and abilities are welcome!
- Audition opportunities for local youth/civic orchestras and competitions.
- Flute choir involves weekly coachings and performance opportunities in various settings.
Colleen Matheu Johnson Music Studio
1011 Heights Blvd. Houston, TX 77008
Thank you for your interest in flute and/or piccolo lessons!
I have been teaching flute to all ages for 19 years. Lessons can begin as early as 4 years of age. I received my degrees in flute performance from Oberlin Conservatory (BM) and Northwestern University (MM). I use a variety of approaches with the primary emphasis on classical music. I am up to date on my background and finger printing check.
Throughout the year, we will have at least one studio recital so that all family and friends can attend and see the great progress that the students have made throughout the season. Opportunities to audition for local youth and civic orchestras and competitions are also encouraged but not mandatory.
Facetime/skype flute lessons are now available for those that do not live near The Heights and are outside of the Houston area! Please contact me for more information if you are interested in this type of lesson.
During the last week of each month, I will e-mail the parent/student to inform them of the potential schedule for the following month along with balances due. Students are expected to take one lesson per week. I will also e-mail the parent/student if FREE tickets become available for performances with The Houston Ballet and The Houston Symphony. This opportunity happens a few times throughout the season and whoever replies to the e-mail first (one time per season, please), will receive the pair of tickets! A subscription to Flute Talk Magazine is complimentary and will be distributed once per month at the student's lesson. I have several schedules to contend with and therefore there will sometimes be a variation in lesson days/times. However, I will make every effort to try and keep the schedule as consistent as possible.
Traditional method students are required to practice 5-6 days per week and keep record of their practicing in an assignment notebook. Students that are involved in Suzuki flute study, are expected to practice on a regular basis for at least 5-10 minutes per session. Suzuki students are required to have a parent/guardian (preferably same person) attend lessons with them on a weekly basis.
All lesson materials can typically be found on amazon.com, Music and Arts various locations around Houston, or at AMC Music at 4819 Feagan St. in Houston. Instrument rentals can be found at "Music and Arts" locations throughout Houston. Please keep the music books and assignment notebook in a bag especially for flute.
A $35 administration fee is billed annually during the month of September. Payment for the entire month is due at the first lesson of each month. If payment is submitted after the first lesson of the month, a $15 late fee will be added to the total balance due. Cash or credit are accepted. Gift certificates are available! Lessons are for 30 minutes at $30/lesson, 45 minutes at $45/lesson, and 60 minutes at $60/lesson. If cancellation is necessary, please contact me at least 24 hours in advance. I will make an effort to reschedule a lesson if possible but make-up lessons are not guaranteed and are dependent upon my current schedule. If I cancel a lesson, I will add a credit to the following month's lesson balance or find time in the schedule for a make-up lesson. If a student wishes to discontinue lessons at any time, one month's notice is required before termination of the lesson policy is honored. (Example: Student wishes to discontinue lessons in July. Notification by June 1st is required in order to avoid payment for July lessons).
Advanced registration to begin lessons at a specific time and day is possible with a deposit for one month of lessons. (Example: A student wants to begin lessons at the length of 45 minutes/week in September and inquires in July. One month's deposit of $45x4=$180 is required in order to reserve a requested day and time for the month of September). Once the student begins lessons, the deposit will be applied to the first month of lessons.
Parents are welcome to stay for the first lesson so they can observe my teaching method.
With kind regards,
Colleen Matheu Johnson
(713) 423-5073
colleen@houstonflutelessons.net