According to her mother, Penny Buhr Johnson of Caronport has been singing since before she started speaking. It looks like all that singing has paid off as the singer has been selected as one of 10 individuals for the CNIB iFactor Star Search.
The event, taking place in Muskoka, ON, from Aug. 14 to 20 means that Johnson will have the opportunity to participate in a week-long training session and compete in the two-night competition.
Johnson became involved with CNIB when she was about 30 years old, but it was only last year that she first participated in the competition. "The CNIB told me about it last year and I went in it last year. But I didn't really have any time to prepare. It was kind of at the last minute. The deadline was the middle of June and I found out in the middle of May. So I didn't really have any time to let anyone know or prepare for it. So this year, I thought maybe I would work on it a little more and spend some time preparing.
Johnson's love for music stems back to her childhood. "When I was eight, I had a piano and I took classes right up until grade nine. When I became an adult, I got into nursing and then we started a family. It wasn't until I started teaching music at home that I really realized I had a passion for it. I have never done any composing. It was once I started writing that I realized that passion."
Johnson faced a number of challenges during her musical journey. When she was five years old, Johnson was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which is a disease that leads to the progressive loss of vision. "I haven't seen the stars since I was five years old. They told me that one day, I would be blind, but I didn't believe them. It wasn't until I was 30 that it really started to affect me. It was then that I noticed that musical notes on the page would go missing or the letter t on a stop sign would disappear and then reappear."
Regardless, Johnson didn't register with the CNIB until she was 40 years old, even though now she wishes she would have done it differently. "I wish I would have done that sooner because I was really frustrated with not being able to read anything. And that's something I would really encourage people to do, because it is so much better living with the help of CNIB."
At this point, Johnson's focus has turned away from teaching and towards performing. While Johnson had three students this year, she is mainly pursuing performing. "It was when I was living in Wawota that my husband Del, the owner of Ogy's, encouraged me to start doing concerts."
Johnson has had a lot of encouragement along the way. "I have been greatly encouraged by the CGMA (Country Gospel Music Ministries Association). And even though it is out of Missouri, there is a Canadian chapter as well. And they have been giving me awards since the start of my involvement. And even an International Bilingual Artist of the Year award last year. I am also a member of the AFM, so they let me know about a number of opportunities to sing at throughout the summer."
Johnson by no means is new to the music industry. Coming out with her third CD this year entitled Growing Deeper, the singer is hoping to have a long career in the industry. "I love to sing, so if I could get paid to do it, that would be a dream" said Johnson.
Winning the CNIB iFactor is just the exposure that Johnson is looking for. Not only will the winner receive exposure, but he or she will earn a trip for two to a city in Canada, and will perform as the opening act for award-winning Juno nominee, Terry Kelly.
When asked what advice she has for those interested in performing, she offers unique insight as a result of her own personal challenges. "One of my music teachers, when I was a kid, had a hearing problem. And one day she said to me, when you have a challenge, you just have to try harder. If there is something you want to do, that you really want to do, and you love doing it, you have to find another way to do it. You have to try harder. That's all you have to do."
It is obvious that Johnson's 'trying' has paid off. For those interested in purchasing one of Johnson's musical compilations, they are available locally at Ogy's in addition to Gemstones in Moose Jaw and Briercrest Bookstore in Caronport. In addition, you can contact Johnson on her website at www.pennybuhrjohnson.com.
