The Augustana Choir Conductor
Dr. James R. Johnson began his tenure as the fourth conductor in the history of The Augustana Choir in the fall of 1992. He also serves Augustana College as professor of music and director of choral activities, conducts the Chamber Choir, and teaches in the areas of conducting, sacred music, choral methods and music history. Dr. Johnson conducts over 50 concerts a year. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Johnson was the Head of Choral Music Education and a member of the graduate division at Boston University's School for the Arts. At Boston University he conducted the Boston University Chorus and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and aesthetic philosophy.
Choral ensembles under the direction of Dr. Johnson have appeared at national and international venues, and various MENC and ACDA conventions. His choirs have performed all across the United States and at sites from Carnegie Hall to the Cathedrals of Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter’s in Rome, St. Paul’s in London, St. Stephen’s in Vienna, St. Patrick’s in Dublin, Nidaros in Trondheim, Chartres, and many others. Even congregations in Africa have heard the “sermon in song” of The Augustana Choir under his direction. The choir has also received auditioned invitations to perform at state functions in Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Ireland, England and Poland.
The Augustana Choir has become one of the most internationally traveled college ensembles during Dr. Johnson’s tenure. The choir represented the United States in the international observance of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of France at Omaha Beach in 1994 in a tour that included appearances all across England and France. They performed in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz in commemoration of the millenium of Austria's nationhood in 1996. The choir toured Norway in May and June of 1998; Ireland, Wales and England in the summer of 2000; and in 2002 performed in Italy and Germany, presenting High Mass at St. Peter’s in Vatican City, and at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. In 2004 they performed throughout Ireland on a tour of peace and reconciliation between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Tanzania was the choir’s destination in 2006, performing throughout the country in a history making tour for a choir of an ELCA college. In 2008, the choir returned to Italy with a special focus given to Sicily and the southern part of the country. The Augustana Choir also frequently appears with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and in 2007 Dr. Johnson assumed the post of chorus master of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
A native of Luverne, Minnesota, Dr. Johnson began his choral studies with Weston Noble at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he received his degree with majors in vocal music and history and a designation of magna cum lauda. The University of Tennessee's Master of Music degree was granted Professor Johnson upon completion of studies in choral conducting with Donald Neuen. Professor Johnson also holds the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Illinois where he studied aesthetic philosophy, choral and orchestral conducting, and music education.
Professor Johnson has frequently appeared as conductor of All-State, and regional choirs and in 2004 conducted the International Choral Festival in Muscat, Oman. He has been director of choral activities at high schools in Minnesota and Iowa, and at Northern State University prior to his appointment to the faculty of Boston University. He has taught subjects at the undergraduate and graduate levels as varied as applied voice; music history of the medieval, renaissance, baroque, rococo and modern periods; courses in choral conducting and methods, vocal pedagogy, and vocal and choral literature; vocal jazz; aesthetic philosophy; and all manner of choral ensembles. Guest conducting appearances for Professor Johnson have included state and regional festivals throughout the United States and he regularly presents clinics for teachers in the public schools and at MENC and ACDA conventions.
In the area of music research Professor Johnson is in charge of cataloguing the collected papers and works of the philosopher Susanne K. Langer for the Houghton Archives of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has also published in the area of aesthetic philosophy and has ongoing research projects concerning duple and triple rhythmic complexes involved in the performance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and problems of modus, tempus and prolatio in renaissance polyphony.
Dr. Johnson's current professional memberships include the National Collegiate Choral Organization, American Choral Directors Association, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, International Federation for Choral Music, and the Music Educators National Conference. Honorary Society memberships have been conferred upon Dr. Johnson by Pi Kappa Lambda in Music, Phi Delta Kappa in Education and Phi Alpha Theta in History.
Dr. Johnson is available for questions via email: James_Johnson@augie.edu.