Angela Baptiste has shared her love of music with thousands of students in her nearly four decades of teaching.

But when she met an unassuming 12-year-old Christopher Johnson in 1986, he played for her. And everything changed.

"All of a sudden a cascade of sound just came out of the piano unlike any student I'd ever heard," said Baptiste.

Not before and not since has she experienced anything like it. Baptiste says she prayed to be a worthy teacher to Johnson’s talent.

With her guidance, Johnson’s playing propelled him triumphantly through his first competitions and into the premiere arts conservatory, Juilliard.

"I was thrilled for him,” Baptiste said of his acceptance, “but I was like, ‘of course.’"

Johnson continued his musical studies – all the way to a Doctorate in Musical Arts.

"Someone once asked me how do you see yourself when you're 85-years-old — you know God willing I'll make it to 85 – the answer is, still learning," said Johnson.

Johnson cemented his career as a concert pianist and now lives in Manhattan.

Summer trips to the Tampa Bay area to perform always include teacher-student visits. Baptiste will be at his performance at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she said with pride.

Why just the summer touring?

Because in the fall —Johnson takes on his second job — teaching, following in Baptiste’s footsteps.

"When I started teaching him,” Baptiste said, “I found out the joy of teaching is to be a coach— not just implementing facts and knowledge."

Johnson will be playing selections from Debussy, Chopin, Gershwin and Beethoven, to name a few.

The first piano piece he played for Baptiste back in 1986? A Debussy Arabesque No. 1.

He’ll be playing that piece in his performance.

The concert is Sunday, July 31 at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. It begins at 2 p.m.