Michael Johanson

Michael Johanson's compositions have been widely performed at various concerts and festivals throughout the United States, including the Contemporary Music Festival at James Madison University, June in Buffalo, Society of Composers Incorporated, Williams College Chamber Players, A Celebration of New Music at Texas Tech University, Western Washington University, the Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival, the Great Western Horn Symposium in Las Vegas, the Lewis and Clark Symphony Orchestra, as well as in France, China, Thailand, and Singapore. He has received commissions from the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, the American Friends Service Committee, and Indiana University's Newman Center. Honors and awards include a grant from the American Music Center, the Dean's Prize in Composition given by Indiana University (twice), the Nancy and Russell Hatz Special Recognition Award given by the National Federation of Music Clubs Young Composers' Competition, and the McCurdy Prize given by the Eastman School of Music (twice). Internationally known saxophonist Frederick Hemke recently recorded his work "Memento" on the EnF Records label.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in composition from the Eastman School of Music (where he also completed a Bachelor's degree in saxophone), and both Master's and Doctoral degrees in composition from Indiana University. His teachers include Samuel Adler, Joseph Schwanter, Robert Morris, Frederick Fox, Eugene O'Brien, David Dzubay, and Sven-David Sandstrom.

Formerly on the faculties of Indiana State University, Williams College, and Stetson University, Mr. Johanson is currently Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He serves as artistic director of Friends of Rain, Lewis & Clark's faculty contemporary music ensemble. He is also a co-founder of the Northwest Music Academy, a newly established organization which seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to musical training.