Johanna Sö

Johanna Sö is a violinist and songwriter creating violin-driven cinematic folk, blending classical precision with folk sensibility and emotionally resonant storytelling.  As a soloist, her work is rooted in atmosphere and emotion, drawing listeners into a world that is feels intimate yet expansive.

Born and raised in Alaska and now based in Canada, Sö has built a diverse international performance career shaped by her commitment to improvisation and cross-genre exploration. Her playing has been recognized for its soulful expressiveness and ability to move fluidly across genres, bridging folk, Celtic, and rock traditions with cinematic and contemporary classical sound worlds.

Sö has recently performed alongside Canadian icon Alan Doyle, including appearances at major stages such as opening for Shania Twain at Ottawa Bluesfest (2025) and a guest appearance at Massey Hall. Her broader performance resume includes collaborations with Grammy Award–winning Portugal. The Man, Grammy-nominated Gungor, singer-songwriter Joy Ike, and The Brilliance, and The Rowdy Men. Her touring career also includes nine years on the road as a fiddle player with the Celtic-Folk-Rock band The Town Pants.

As a solo artist, Sö uses a loop pedal to build layered, orchestral textures in real time. She has performed at festivals such as the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh and has opened for the Grammy-nominated brass quartet The Westerlies. Her original compositions, including Resilience and The Long Way Back, are featured on The Town Pants album Something To Say.

In the classical world, Sö has performed at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Keith Lockhart and has shared the stage with violinist Midori. She studied Violin Performance and Anthropology at Carnegie Mellon University, training under Andrés Cárdenes and continued her post-graduate studies through a two-year mentorship with Pittsburgh Symphony violinist Lorien Hart.

Also an experienced educator, Sö has over a decade of teaching experience as a Suzuki-trained instructor and K–12 music educator, maintaining a strong commitment to mentorship alongside her performance career.

Now expanding her work as both a solo artist and collaborator, Sö is available for touring, studio recording, and creative collaborations.