Craig Hella Johnson

Craig Hella Johnson (born c.1962) is an American choral conductor, composer, and arranger.

Life and career

Originally from Minnesota,[1] he studied piano and sang in the St. Olaf Choir at St. Olaf College,[2] graduating in 1984.[3] He went on to study at Juilliard, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and Yale University, from which he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree.[4]

He founded and is the artistic director of the group Conspirare.[4] He is also the artistic director of the Victoria Bach Festival and in 1998-1999 was the artistic director of Chanticleer,[5] the second person to hold that position (after founder Louis Botto).[2]

Johnson serves as Resident Artist in Choral Music at Texas State University[4] and previously spent eight years as director of choral activities for the University of Texas.[2]

In April 2013, Johnson was named the 2013 Texas State Musician, the second classical musician to receive the honor.[6][7] In May 2013 Johnson was named Music Director/Conductor of Vocal Arts Ensemble in Cincinnati, Ohio.

On February 8, 2015 he and Conspirare won the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for their album The Sacred Spirit of Russia (Harmonia mundi HMU 807526).

References

  1. ↑ Faires, Robert. "Tomorrow the World: Craig Hella Johnson's company of voices has long been world-class; now the world is hearing it" June 20, 2008, The Austin Chronicle
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kosman, Joshua"A New Voice for Chanticleer / Craig Hella Johnson sees men's chorus as a model organization" April 5, 1998, SFGate
  3. ↑ Photo: Craig Hella Johnson '84 St. Olaf College Image Library
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Faculty bio Texas State University
  5. ↑ Chorus America biography
  6. ↑ Eddy, Melissa "Craig Hella Johnson, Artistic Director of Conspirare, Named Texas State Musician for 2013" May 2, 2013, ChoralNet (American Choral Directors Association)
  7. ↑ Current State Artists Texas Commission on the Arts

External links