Johanna Leung is a classically trained clarinettist specializing in classical contemporary music. She graduated with a Master of Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2021under Antonio Salguero, Chris Swann, Sarah Watts (bass clarinet)’s tuition.

 

Johanna has performed internationally in Reykjavik, Keflavik, Berlin, England and Hong Kong. Active in North West England, Johanna has participated in various orchestras and ensembles such as The Halle Orchestra, UnHeard, Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera and Opera Shack. She has given solo clarinet recital with Stockton Heath Music Society and chamber recital with Harris Music Preston and Rochdale Music Society. She has given solo and chamber performances in various venues including the Manchester Cathedral, Blackburn Cathedral, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Manchester St Ann's Church, Sheffield Cathedral and Lancaster Priory. As the core member of  UnHeard and Subito Ensemble, Johanna has been invited to various high-profile festivals including HOME: PUSH LAB 2024, GAIA Festival of The Earth , The Sound of Contagion (collaborative project between the University of Oxford and the University of Arts, Berlin), Tête à Tête Contemporary Opera Festival 2023 and Már Gunnarsson Concert Tour 2024 (Reykjavik, Keflavik and Manchester). Johanna has made her first premiere in MIF23 (Manchester International Festival 2023) at the Festival Square with original composition.

 

From early success with the 66th Hong Kong School Music Festival solo clarinet competition, Johanna later achieved 2nd prize in the senior solo category of the 2019 Buffet Crampon Clarinet Competition and Help Musician Postgraduate Award 2020.

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Johanna has participated in masterclasses from world class musicians such as Gabor Varga, Karel Donal, Walter Seyfarth, and John Campbell. Striving for excellency, she further her professional development by taking part in orchestral workshop with 1 to 1 coaching from musicians from RPO, RLPO, RNS, LPO and BSO, working on orchestral excerpts and chamber music, and to play side by side with professional orchestral players.

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As a classical contemporary music specialist, Johanna is particularly interested in experimental music and multi-media art collaboration. She has been collaborating with various local composers on commissioned compositions, and commercial recordings as well as collaborating with artists of different disciplines such as spoken word, poetry and video. Blending original composition with improvisation and advance clarinet playing technique, field recording and object playing, Johanna's art practice looks extensively into the translation between different art disciplines, exploring the nature of life, human insecurity and connection, and environment. Her cross-disciplinary works combine original composition performance with visual art making.

 

Johanna has been invited to create composition and sound design for Thomas Carter Audio Drama, a parallel project of BBC Radio 4 Audio Drama in 2025.

​She has worked as Sound Design Mentor with New Earth Academy and The Lowry in 2024, supporting 6 emerging artists in developing sound and music for their original theatre productions to shape soundscapes that enhance storytelling.

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Johanna is the Project Director and Producer of Reimagined City (collaborative festival celebrating diverse cultures in the metropolitan district through art and music activities, funded by Art Council England). Johanna is the Producer and Marketing Manager of several projects including UnHeard, Mindfulness Painting with Live Music, International CoMA Contemporary Music For All Festival (Manchester) and more. Johanna has been selected in Brighter Sound: Change The Record Leadership Program 2024.

 

Contact Johanna for performance, recording, collaboration or project/ production management.