June 22, 2004

For Chris Johnson, work is music to his ears.

Johnson, a University of Houston music alumnus, hosts “Afternoon Concert” weekday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. on KUHF 88.7 FM. Offering a range of classical music that would appease even the most discerning cultural appetites, he tries to make each show as varied as possible.

“The best thing about this show is that I get to cover 400 years of western music history, so I have a lot to choose from,” he said. “If I start out with a piece from the Romantic era, I’ll follow with something different like a piece from the Baroque or Classical era. I try to represent something from each period.”

Listening to Johnson’s eloquent on-air vocal delivery, one would think that he’s a broadcasting veteran. Not so. Johnson was new to radio when he joined the KUHF staff in 2001, but he wasn’t a novice when it came to classical music.

He learned the violin at age 9 and eventually, Johnson knew that music would always be in his life.

“It was the only thing that held my interest,” he said. “I have many interests but a short attention span. The violin was the only thing that captivated me. Nobody ever had to remind me to go practice. I just did. Early on, I knew that I was going to stick with the violin.”

In 1995, Johnson attended a music festival in North Carolina, where he met violinist Andrzej Grabiec. Grabiec was just about to join UH’s music faculty as its area string coordinator. As a fan of Grabiec, Johnson was motivated to learn from his idol and soon began pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree in applied violin at UH’s Moores School of Music (MSM).

He worked his way through school by teaching private violin lessons, but in 2001, a job listing caught his eye. While rehearsing one evening in MSM, he spied a flyer that advertised a part-time weekend and overnight announcer position at KUHF, the public radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the UH System Board of Regents. Inspired by the thought of working for a classical music station, he applied and was promptly hired.

Co-workers at KUHF took note of Johnson’s outgoing personality and resonant voice. In January, he was assigned to host “Afternoon Concert.”

Although he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2003, Johnson still is enrolled at UH as a part-time continuing education student. When he’s off-campus, he contributes his violin skills to the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles.

Now Johnson finds himself in a position where both his broadcast and music careers reflect his best assets. As a result, audiences can appreciate his talents on the air and on stage.

“Surprisingly enough, being on the air has given me a better sense of performing. Likewise, my knowledge of music has helped me select music for the show,” he said. “I’m fortunate that I can use my experiences in both radio and music to help me excel in both areas.”

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu