Norman E. Johns was formerly assistant principal cellist of the orchestra, having joined 50 years ago in 1975
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has announced the death of a former member, cellist Norman E. Johns, after a two-year battle with cancer. Johns joined the orchestra in 1975 and was recognised as the CSO’s longest-serving African American musician, only retiring from his position as assistant principal cellist earlier this year.
Johns was born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Montreux, Switzerland.
Johns helped to establish the Norman E. Johns chair award in 1995, offering scholarship support to musicians from underrepresented backgrounds in the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra programme, and also mentored pre-professional musicians through the CSO’s diversity fellowship programme in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
When asked how the orchestra could make the world a better place, he once shared the following: ‘Continued progress is dependent upon continued embrace of our diversity… of performers, composers, audience, and support personnel. Our diversity in these areas gives credibility to our capacity to enlighten the community at large.’
In 2023, Johns received the Rosa F. and Samuel B. Sachs Fund Prize for his artistic accomplishments and contributions to the cultural life of the Cincinnati region.
In sharing the news of his death, the CSO included a quote from Johns upon his retirement: ‘I’ve seen the music world become more and more like family. You discover that you have “cousins” of all shapes and sizes and colours. You know, I didn’t know anything about Cincinnati when I got here… But Cincinnati welcomed me. And it became my home. So, I’ve spent the last 50 years trying to give back to it like I would my own family.’
The orchestra also paid heartfelt tribute to the cellist in its own words:
‘Norm believed deeply in the power of music to transform lives, and he lived that belief every day as a performer, teacher and mentor. But what many will remember most about Norm is who he was as a person – gracious, humble, curious, kind and a gifted storyteller. To know Norm was to be captivated by his stories.
‘Norm was a brilliant light in this world, one that lives on in the students he taught, the musicians he inspired and the community he helped to shape. We are grateful for the time we had with Norm, and we will carry his legacy forward with care and pride.’
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