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Timothy Johnston

Mr Timothy Johnston

Teacher in Composition and Music Production

Email
JohnstonTM@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Music Building, Room 0.02, 31 Corbett Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EB

Overview

I am an Anglo-Welsh composer, researching the use of traditional music and culture in contemporary Classical repertoire. I also have an active interest in both the theory and practice of music and visual media, a topic which is the focus of a number of my compositional and academic activities. My music explores aspects of folk music, narrative, and creative studio techniques.

I am a keen producer and mix engineer, I have composed soundtracks for several films, short and full-length; my debut feature film soundtrack was released in 2019. I am also a keen pianist, cellist, and choral singer.

I sumitted my PhD thesis in composition, Intersecting Influences: Composing in a Space Between Folk and Western Art Musics, in late 2023, and am currently awaiting my viva. I graduated with my undergraduate degree from Cardiff University (BMus, First Class Hons) in 2017, and my MA [Composition for Film and Television] (Dist.) from the University of Bristol in 2018, under the tutorage of Prof. John Pickard and Dr Richard Blackford.

Research

Within my work and creative output as a composer, I am particularly interested in:

  • The interaction of Western art music with folk music and culture
  • Developing new methodological approaches to collaboration in music and visual media (especially film)
  • Music and narrative
  • Creative studio techniques

Teaching

I lecture and tutor first year undergraduate composition and am module leader for studio/film composition modules at undergraduate level 5 and 6. I also teach individual sessions at level 7 (MA) on research skills and music production.

I hold the qualification status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and am now a mentor on the university's Associate Fellow training pathway.

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Music composition and improvisation
  • Music technology and recording
  • Folk music
  • Music for media