Biography
Believing that musical performances create an environment offering a shared experience, Ziggy and Miles Johnston break down barriers between musical genres and audiences. Through their artistic versatility and commitment to diverse cultures, the brothers interpret music across the fabric of time to weave stories and landscapes through their music. Crisscrossing the standard classical guitar canon with music from Australia, Spain, Latin America, and jazz-influenced works, the brothers also expand musical boundaries by offering new works and arrangements.
Performing across New Zealand and their home country of Australia, Ziggy and Miles gained a reputation as two of Australia’s finest young concert artists and in 2019 were the youngest artists ever featured in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s distinguished Local Heroes concert series. They have performed at venues both large and small, from the 15,000 seat Rod Laver Arena to facilities for people with severe mental disabilities and brain damage. Also heard offstage at every kind of event from weddings to corporate function, art galleries, museum exhibition openings, fundraisers for major arts-based non-profit organisations and federal political parties, they were featured performers for an event for the Supreme Court of Victoria hosted by the Court of Appeals.
Each currently studying classical guitar under Ms. Sharon Isbin, they are completing their Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School. They have continued their passion for community engagement through the McCabe Guitar Fellowship, where they introduce classical guitar to young audiences and educators, and the Gluck Community Service Fellowship, where they perform for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and alternative care facilities. Between the brothers, they received distinguished awards to assist financing their studies at Juilliard from Australian Foundations, including the American Australia Association, Ian Potter Cultural Trust, and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.
Performing across New Zealand and their home country of Australia, Ziggy and Miles gained a reputation as two of Australia’s finest young concert artists and in 2019 were the youngest artists ever featured in the Melbourne Recital Centre’s distinguished Local Heroes concert series. They have performed at venues both large and small, from the 15,000 seat Rod Laver Arena to facilities for people with severe mental disabilities and brain damage. Also heard offstage at every kind of event from weddings to corporate function, art galleries, museum exhibition openings, fundraisers for major arts-based non-profit organisations and federal political parties, they were featured performers for an event for the Supreme Court of Victoria hosted by the Court of Appeals.
Each currently studying classical guitar under Ms. Sharon Isbin, they are completing their Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School. They have continued their passion for community engagement through the McCabe Guitar Fellowship, where they introduce classical guitar to young audiences and educators, and the Gluck Community Service Fellowship, where they perform for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and alternative care facilities. Between the brothers, they received distinguished awards to assist financing their studies at Juilliard from Australian Foundations, including the American Australia Association, Ian Potter Cultural Trust, and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.