“Australian guitarist brothers making history” (The Age), Ziggy and Miles Johnston are two of their home country’s finest young musicians forging an international career. Their performances are known for their transfixing synchronicity and subtlety, exploiting the instruments’ full range of colours and techniques. Currently based in NYC, Ziggy and Miles are continuing their studies at The Juilliard School under Multiple Grammy Winner, Sharon Isbin, as Artist Diploma candidates, becoming the first Australians of any instrument and first guitar duo in the program’s 20-year history to be accepted.

In July 2023, their long-awaited next album, Sidekick, releases with Move Records, Australia’s longest running classical record label. The album features favourite guitar duos, the brothers’ own “transfixingly beautiful” (Limelight Magazine) arrangement of Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and commissions by Australian composer Ken Murray and Welsh composer Katie Jenkins. Following the album’s release, Ziggy and Miles’ 2023/24 season begins with 13-concert tour of Australia and performances across NYC, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Florida.

With over 50 awards between them in guitar competitions and local music Eisteddfods across their home city of Melbourne, Ziggy and Miles proved their artistry as soloists and as a duo from a young age. A selection of their major accolades includes prizes in the Guitar Foundation of America International Ensemble Artists Competition, the Adelaide International Guitar Festival International Classical Guitar Competition, and finalists in the Concert Artists Guild Competition. Self-released in 2014, their debut album, Recollections, served as both a tribute to the music that inspired the brothers growing up, and as their first professional milestone to look back upon and ‘recollect’.

Ziggy and Miles are actively involved in community engagement and have a passion for providing education and music to people without access to live performances or high quality music education. They have collaborated with organisations across Australia and the US including Melbourne Recital Centre, The Juilliard School, and Project: Music Heals Us. One highlight for the brothers was their Music Always tour, partnered with Melbourne Recital Centre. This 2-week 12-concert tour saw the brothers travelling across their home state of Victoria to aged care facilities, community centres, medical facilities, and psychiatric wards. Ziggy and Miles regard this as one of their most emotionally challenging yet rewarding experiences as musicians to date.

During both their master’s and Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School, the brothers received distinguished awards to assist their studies from Australian Foundations, including the American Australia Association, Ian Potter Cultural Trust, and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.

Ziggy and Miles play double top guitars by Australian luthier Jim Redgate and wear suits from Peter Jackson menswear.