Founder, International Competition for Young String Players, Ages 13 to 17

Anna Storch Johansen
(1908–1998)

The Johansen International Competition (JIC) for Young String Players was founded through the generosity of Anna Storch Johansen of Falls Church, VA, a Life Member of the Friday Morning Music Club (FMMC). Held every three years, the competition was established in 1997.

In keeping with Mrs. Johansen’s wishes, the competition encourages younger musicians with significant prize awards at a time when they need it most – when they must make decisions about continuing with their dedication to music, or perhaps moving away from it as they look to college and other interests.

Recalling a New York City gold medal she won when she was just 17 years old, Mrs. Johansen credited that experience with helping her decide to make music her life-long effort. By establishing the Johansen International Competition (JIC), she hoped to pass that encouragement on to new generations of string players. Mrs. Johansen expressed these sentiments during an interview about her decision to fund the competition and put it under the guidance of the FMMC Foundation. Funding for the JIC comes from the Trust Fund that she had established to pay for the care of their son, Gustave, who was injured as a teenager.

A violinist and FMMC member for over fifty years, Mrs. Johansen was elected to Life Membership in 1994. Her affection for the Club and her commitment to the encouragement of young musicians was demonstrated in 1990, when she funded the FMMC High School Competition for Strings in memory of her late son, Gustave N. Johansen. This local competition is open to high school students in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Born into a musical family, Mrs. Johansen began to study piano at an early age and added the violin at age nine. Her father and first violin teacher, Alfons Storch, was a violinist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 45 years. His three brothers, also string players, were associated with major symphony orchestras. She later studied with Victor Kuzdo, an associate of Leopold Auer. She studied at the Baltimore Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Institute. Mrs. Johansen played with the Baltimore Symphony and often performed at Friday Morning Music Club concerts. Anna Storch Johansen (1908-1998) Mrs. Anna Johansen, Founder Johansen International Competition for Young String Players, Ages 13-17

The Johansen International Competition (JIC) for Young String Players was founded through the generosity of Anna Storch Johansen of Falls Church, VA, a Life Member of the Friday Morning Music Club (FMMC). Held every three years, the competition was established in 1997.

In keeping with Mrs. Johansen’s wishes, the competition encourages younger musicians with significant prize awards at a time when they need it most – when they must make decisions about continuing with their dedication to music, or perhaps moving away from it as they look to college and other interests.

Recalling a New York City gold medal she won when she was just 17 years old, Mrs. Johansen credited that experience with helping her decide to make music her life-long effort. By establishing the Johansen International Competition (JIC), she hoped to pass that encouragement on to new generations of string players. Mrs. Johansen expressed these sentiments during an interview about her decision to fund the competition and put it under the guidance of the FMMC Foundation. Funding for the JIC comes from the Trust Fund that she had established to pay for the care of their son, Gustave, who was injured as a teenager.

A violinist and FMMC member for over fifty years, Mrs. Johansen was elected to Life Membership in 1994. Her affection for the Club and her commitment to the encouragement of young musicians was demonstrated in 1990, when she funded the FMMC High School Competition for Strings in memory of her late son, Gustave N. Johansen. This local competition is open to high school students in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

Born into a musical family, Mrs. Johansen began to study piano at an early age and added the violin at age nine. Her father and first violin teacher, Alfons Storch, was a violinist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 45 years. His three brothers, also string players, were associated with major symphony orchestras. She later studied with Victor Kuzdo, an associate of Leopold Auer. She studied at the Baltimore Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Institute. Mrs. Johansen played with the Baltimore Symphony and often performed at Friday Morning Music Club concerts. Anna Storch Johansen (1908-1998) Mrs. Anna Johansen, Founder Johansen International Competition for Young String Players, Ages 13-17

Anna Storch Johansen
(1908–1998)