Johan Bridger

International Marimbist /Percussion Soloist
Marimba teacher at the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense.
Director of the percussion department at the Malmö Music Academy (Sweden).

Sweden

Biography

“For his intense personal expression, brilliant technical mastery and overpowering stage presence.” Thus could we read the judges’ citation for the percussionist and marimba artist Johan Bridger as he received the 2004 Swedish Soloist’s Prize. The same year he managed to win the 1st prize in the Belgium International Marimba Duo Competition and made a grandiose start at both the Wigmore Hall in London and PASIC in the US. Since then J. Bridger has given numerous critically praised performances, both nationwide and internationally; throughout Europe,Russia, Asia and the US.
Johan Bridger has performed at major scenes, such as La Biennale di Venezia, Mariinsky Theatre and Carnegie Hall and collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists including Evelyn Glennie, Thomas Søndergård, Mats Rondin, Eva Ollikainen, Hans Pålsson, Per Tengstrand, Hugo Ticciati, Urban Agnas and Håkan Hardenberger. He has also made several appearances as a soloist on Swedish Radio’s classical music station and on Swedish Television.

Born in Sweden in 1976, Johan Bridger received his education from Malmö Academy of Music and Northwestern University in Chicago. His principal teachers were Lennart Gruvstedt, Leigh Howard Stevens and Professor Michael Burritt. As a true percussion virtuoso, Johan Bridger embraces and masters an extensive repertoire, from J.S. Bach to contemporary and new music and is privileged to present works by leading composers, such as Alejandro Vinao, Pius Cheung, Marcin Blazewitz, Daniel Börtz, Staffan Storm and Tobias Broström.
In addition to his own ceaseless exploration of the marimba and the overall percussionist’s world, Johan seeks to inspire others by giving both lectures and master classes, in Sweden and abroad. He also teaches at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, The Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Odense, The Malmö Academy of Music and Sundsgarden School of Music.

The Resta-Jay Johan Bridger Signature mallets series was created in 2016 by Emmanuel Jay to answer to the modern repertoire requiring precision, brilliance, clarity and sound projection.

Photos

Johan Bridger videos

Baguettes

Johan Bridger Signature marimba mallets:

The Johan Bridger Signature mallets series will provide you with a greater precision, brightness and clarity in treble. The marimba also finds its place in the orchestra thanks to the brilliance of the hardest reference. The bass and medium are very versatile. Particularly suitable for fast pieces, this series also allows to play chamber music.