Composing Music Leads to Better Things for Seth Johnson published on Campbellsville University's website

Joining a small band or choir is usually the extent a musically gifted student will strive for while in school. Seth Johnson, however, is striving for something far greater.

"As far as a music career, I would love to be a film composer," he said. "There is just something cool about music being able to tell a story and add excitement to it."

Johnson has always been interested in music, especially when he was younger when his parents would play music around the house. This led to him wanting to take music classes.

"I started played piano when I was nine years old," he said, "and then started cello when I was 11."

Rather than giving up early on, he pushed himself further, and eventually started composing.

"What got me into composing was movie soundtracks, especially Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Pirates of the Caribbean," he said.

While still in high school, Johnson was already looking ahead to bigger things.

"I wrote a few pieces for my high school orchestra," he said, "but didn't really start writing until I got to Campbellsville."

Johnson, now a junior, has written many pieces, ranging from solo piano to a full symphonic orchestra.

"This past semester," he said," thanks to Otto Tennant and [Campbellsville University], the orchestra went down to Nashville and recorded a CD consisting entirely of my music, which will be available soon."

A recital consisting entirely of Johnson's music will be held on March 2 in the Gheens Recital Hall. The recital will also feature ensembles from the School of Music and many soloists. Johnson isn't feeling the pressure though.

"I'm not going to say I feel challenged, but that I strive for better quality with my work," he said. "If people think you are good at something, you have to be able to prove it."

Johnson will put his theory to the test when he finishes composes music for the "My Kentucky Home" series that shall be shown on KET. The episode is featured in Grayson County where he lives.

"Being from Grayson County really puts me in a good place because I know what the people there are like and how to put that into music," he said.

The airdate for the episode won't be available until later this year.

Johnson is currently majoring in music composition and theory.

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