Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare

Why choral music is still relevant in a pop culture world

Conspirare Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson will reflect on the transformative power of choral music and its power to call us into a deeper experience of who we truly are, individually and together as reflected in Grammy® Award-winning Conspirare’s 25th Anniversary “I Dream a World” season. Craig will share his perspective on the relevance and connectivity of choral music in today’s world as he highlights musical examples from upcoming season offerings.

He will also share an update on Considering Matthew Shepard as it tours to 12 cities and is featured on a nationally distributed PBS special co-produced with KLRU, Austin-PBS.

About our speaker

Craig Hella Johnson is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Austin-based, internationally renowned, Grammy nominated choir Conspirare. Johnson is also music director of the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble and conductor emeritus of the Victoria Bach Festival. Johnson is in frequent demand as a guest conductor of choral and orchestral works. Johnson joined the faculty at Texas State as Artist in Residence in fall 2016 and currently serves as Professor of Practice. A composer and arranger, Johnson is an editor for the Craig Hella Johnson Choral Series, featuring specially selected composers as well as some of his own original compositions and arrangements.

Johnson’s accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. Notably among them, he and Conspirare won a 2014 Grammy® for Best Choral Performance, Chorus America granted him the Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art in 2015, and the Texas State Legislature named him Texas State Musician for 2013. Johnson studied at St. Olaf College, the Juilliard School, and the University of Illinois, and earned his doctorate at Yale University.

Agenda:

6:50am - Coffee & Networking 

7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

7:50am - Speaker Introduction

8:20am - Q&A

8:30am - Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Directions and Parking to UT Club

Breakfast Fees & Policy