Craig Randal Johnson
Conductor Pianist Studio Teacher
Double Bass
Music puts one in the moment, stimulates the senses, and carries the listener to unreachable emotional heights and depths. Enabling great musical experience is a prime goal of my pursuit as performer and teacher.
Craig Randal Johnson
Artistic Director, Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra
Free Lance Conductor
Pianist and Teacher.
News and Upcoming Events
FinnFest Symphony Orchestra Concert
August 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Denfeld High School Auditorium/ Duluth, Minnesota
Betsy Husby, Cello Soloist
Craig Randal Johnson, Conductor
Contact FinnFest USA 2025 Online
Tickets are $25.00. Free Parking
Program:
Sibelius: En Saga, Op. 9
Tikka, Kari: Cello Concerto . / USA Premiere
Betsy Husby, Cello Soloist
Rautavaara: Symphony No. 1 (1988 Version)
Sibelius: Finlandia
Upcoming Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra reading session:
The 2024-2025 Season has Concluded
First Session of 2025-2026: September 13, 2025
10:00 AM at Edina High School
FUTURE DATES: September 13/ September 27/ October 11/ October 25/
November 8/ and November 22, 2025
January 3, 2026
The January MRO Winter Concert information will be available in early to mid summer.
Additional reading sessions will be held February - April, 2026.
Strings are always welcome. Wind and brass players conduct Craig Randal Johnson
for availability information.
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Contact: crjmhahamusic@gmail.com
Youtube Channel @craigrandaljohnson9093
www.minnehaharepertoryorchestra.org
www.finnfest.us
www.craigrandaljohnson.com
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The Marjory Black Memorial Concert was held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Sundin Music Hall/ Hamline University in St. Paul MN
Performers and speakers included members of the Twin Cities Horn Club, horn players from the Minnesota Orchestra, Marjory's student Denise Tryon, violinist Stephanie Arado, pianist Jim Reilly, speakers Kathleen Callaghan, Gary Gimmestad, Tom SenGupta and Katie Miller. Professors Yali You and Janet Greene from Hamline also spoke.
Marjory Black, the love of my life for 30 years, best friend and fellow traveler, passed away on May 8 at the age of 92 . Marjory shared her very bright light with 10s of dozens of students, colleagues, friends and especially family. We traveled often, and she especially loves Marquette MI.
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Recent Performances
Conductor: Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra Concert/ January 26, 2025
Normandale Lutheran Church/ Edina, MN
Archer Brown played the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No . 1
FinnFest 2024: Classical Concert Program
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center/ Duluth MN
First Half of the Program: CRJ played piano works by Ahti Sonninen, Melartin and Kookonen.
Second Half: Highland String Quartet plays Sibelius ‘Voces Intimae
Conductor: Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra Concert/ January 21, 2024
Normandale Lutheran Church/ Edina, MN
Kyle Sanborn played the Vandal Double Bass Concerto
Conductor: FinnFest Symphony Orchestra Concert/ July 28, 2023
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center/ Duluth MN
Mackenzie Melemed played the US Premiere:
Jaakko Kuusisto's piano
concerto.
Conductor: Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra Concert/ March 19, 2023
Normandale Lutheran Church/ Edina, MN
Paul Kosower played the Dvorak Cello Concerto
Recitals: Mimmi Fulmer, soprano; Craig Randal Johnson, pianist
Finnish Vocal Art Music/ Mindekirken Church in Minneapolis MN/ Feb. 5, 2023
SIRIL CONCERT SERIES at Northern Michigan University/ Finnish Vocal Art Music Marquette, MI/ November 11, 2022
Piano Soloist: Grieg Piano Concerto/ April 19, 2022
Northern Michigan Univ. Orchestra/ Marquette MI
REVIEWS
ROCKLAND THE OPERA/ Pine Mountain Music Festival
“The conductor Craig Randal Johnson brought out the darkness in the music, kept the score and the singers well balanced, and made the musical climaxes pay off.”
Opera Magazine/ London
DER PIANIST CRAIG JOHNSON IN LEIBNITZHAUS
"In diesem vertrackten Spannungsfeld zwischen europâisher Kunstmusik und einfacher, 'naiver' Melodik entwickelte Craig Johnson viel Gespür für fließende Strukturen. Ein überzeugender Vortrag kam dabei heraus, der eigentlich jede Diskussion, ob diese Musik nun amerikanisch sei oder nicht, überflüssig machte. Oder wie einer der Anwesenden bemerkte: "Musik hat die Fähigkeit, Menschen glücklich zu machen. Genau dies hat sie bei mir bewirkt."
Hannoverische Allgemeine Zeitung/ Hannover DE
CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE/ Bertolt Brecht, Paul Dessau
Osnabrück City Theater/ Städtische Bühnen Osnabrück
"Unter Leitung und Mitwirkung von Craig Johnson übermitteln die Instrumentalisten . . . Paul Dessaus melismenreiche, griffige, zeichnerisch treffsichere Musik brillant."
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung/ Osnabrück DE
ROME FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
"L'incisiva direzione di Johnson ha riportato con dovizia di particolari timbirci tutte le sfumature della partitura con un a resa assolutamente ineccepibile."
l'Umanità/ Rome, Italy
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO/ North Star Opera
"For his part, Johnson proved to be a reliable, at times canny Mozart conductor. While providing the harpsichord continuo during the recitatives, he drew together Mozart's great finales with undeniable logic and good humor, despite the dry tone of the string players."
Michael Anthony, Minneapolis Star and Tribune/ Minneapolis MN