Craig Hella Johnson

Johnson’s concert-length composition, Considering Matthew Shepard, was premiered in 2016 by Conspirare and has been performed by 40 choirs across the world. Songs from the oratorio are part of the high school and college compeitition repertoire.

As an arranger, Johnson has a signature “collage” style, marrying music and poetry, and blending sacred and secular, classical and contemporary, traditional and popular styles. He publishes the Craig Hella Johnson Choral Series, featuring specially selected composers as well as some of his original compositions and arrangements, with G. Schirmer Publishing. His works are also published by Alliance Music Publications.

Johnson is also music director of the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, artist in residence at Texas State University, and conductor emeritus of the Victoria Bach Festival.

Johnson was Artistic Director of San Francisco-based Chanticleer (1998-1999) and has served as guest conductor with the Austin Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and many others in Texas, the U.S., and abroad.

As the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Austin from 1990-2001, Johnson led the graduate program in choral conducting. He remains an active educator, teaching nationally and internationally with professionals and students at conferences and universities. He is also a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. Craig Hella Johnson joined the faculty at Texas State as Artist in Residence in fall 2016 and continues to inspire his colleagues and students in innovative teaching and programming as Professor of Practice.

A Minnesota native, Johnson graduated from St. Olaf College, the Juilliard School, and the University of Illinois, earning his doctorate at Yale University. As the recipient of a National Arts Fellowship, Johnson studied with Helmuth Rilling at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany. He lives in Austin with his husband.

Craig Hella Johnson’s published works can be purchased through Alliance Music and Hal Leonard. If you are interested in a title that is not listed, please email us: info@conspirare.org.

Please see other titles in the Craig Hella Johnson Schirmer Choral Series.