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Ireland’s RTÉ Concert Orchestra has announced the appointment of Martin Johnson as its cello section leader from September 2025.
Johnson takes up the role having served as cello section leader of National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (formerly the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra) since October 2000.
In a statement on social media, Johnson said: ‘I’m delighted to have been appointed the new section leader cello of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. They are truly a vibrant and exciting group of top-level musicians. Of course, I’m sad to be leaving so many good friends and colleagues after twenty-five years in the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland – we’ve shared so many fantastic musical moments together.
’Equally, I’m very excited to develop new musical friendships with the performers, RTÉ CO management team and the RTÉ lyric fm staff in this next chapter of my career.’
Johnson is a graduate of London’s Royal College of Music and studied with Anna Shuttleworth, Andrew Shulman and Alexander Baillie. In 2006 Johnson was invited to become a lifetime member of the World Philharmonic Orchestra and has served as a regular guest principal with major orchestras in Ireland and the UK.
He appeared as soloist on more than 20 occasions during his tenure with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland. Johnson has been on the faculty of the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) since 2020 teaching both junior and degree level students, and is focussed on the RIAM Professional Mentorship programme for postgraduate cellists.
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