Michael Johnson - OAM

In 2023, Michael was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the King's Birthday Honours List. The citation was awarded for his service to Australian music.
Michael Johnson has been composing and recording since 1976. Originally performing as a rock musician in Australian music venues, he later moved to utilising his skills as a multi instrumental performer, touring with a trio in Victoria and South Australia. Here he was introduced to the harp and never looked back....

He has been the resident musician at a number of locations (Including Healesville Sanctuary). For over a twenty years, Michael has been stationed at the The Melbourne Gardens (Formally The Royal Botanic Gardens), performing in the Harp in the Gardens recitals, Wednesday Concerts in Spring, Concerts on the Lake and the Twilight Music concert Series and Christmas concerts on the Oak Lawn, providing his music for tens of thousands of overseas guests and visitors to the gardens.
He is the instigator of Lyrebird Music (the recording label) and the Twilight Music concert series.

He performs regularly on the harp. His concerts and recordings also feature his work on guitars, piano and various classical and world music instruments. Michael is familiar to audiences throughout the world. His compositions are regularly aired on national radio and television.
He has performed alongside an eclectic combination of artists such as James Morrison, Judith Durham, David Herschfelder, Kate Ceberano, Jane Rutter, Tony Gould, David Jones, Wilber Wilde, Gary Young, Judy Jacques, Kavisha Mazzella, Victorian State Opera, The Australian and Melbourne Welsh Male Choirs, Suzanne Johnston, Donald Cant...
He has performed as a guest artist on many artist's recordings but most notably with ABC Music and albums by Greaham Goble (Founding member of the Little River Band). Michael's harp playing is featured in Greaham's composition "Fragile Heart." Click Here.

As well as a concert performer, Michael has been working in the field of Music for Mindfulness . His tranquil harp music has been an integral part of the Mindfulness Music program at the Gawler Foundation for over forty years and Delmont psychiatric hospital for 12 years. The Melbourne Gardens have also embraced Michael's work with music and mindfulness. with the harp meditations in the gardens. In 2022 Michael was presented with an award for his contribution as a Musician working in mental health by Mental health Australia.

Michael regularly performs as a solo artist, but his compositions are featured his with groups and ensembles such as Breathe Music, Light of the Moon, Time traveller and Cosmos. His harps have been supplied by Andrew Thom Harps and Harps Australia