Principal Timpani
Craig Johnston has been principal timpanist with Portland Columbia Symphony since 1991. He and his wife Barbara (PCSO’s principal cellist) also are founding members of the Newport Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of his musical career include playing for Gerhardt Samuel in the Bay Area Honor Orchestra as a student, for Michael Senturia and Igor Stravinsky at UC Berkeley, and with many other groups. A retired engineer, Craig is also a woodworker and a passionate cruising sailor, having sailed with Barbara extensively in the Northwest and made crossing of both the South Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Their two sons live in Seattle and Los Angeles.
Craig Johnston’s chair is sponsored by Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret.) and George & Susan Stonecliffe
In this virtual concert premiere, marimbist Mike Smith is joined by PCSO's Mike Romanaggi and Craig Johnston and a few other friends – seven percussionists in all – for Ney Rosauro’s First Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble, selections from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and more.
