Sigrid Johnson has been a member of the voice and choral faculty at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, since 1983. During her 24-year tenure as conductor of Manitou Singers, the 100-voice chorus for first-year women at St. Olaf, Johnson has inspired more than 2,000 young women. As a guest clinician at choral workshops and all-state music festivals in 30 states she has enriched and deepened the musical experience of countless singers of all ages across the country. Johnson is known for her skill at blending voices, perfecting tone and assisting with vocal production -- both psychologically and physiologically.
Johnson earned her bachelor's of music degree in vocal performance from St. Cloud State University and a master's of music in voice performance from the University of Michigan. She has taught voice at the University of Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus College, was a member and associate conductor of the Dale Warland Singers and music director of the Dale Warland Symphonic Chorus. She has prepared symphonic choruses for such internationally known conductors as Neemi Jarvi, Sir Neville Mariner, David Zinman, Stanislaw Skrowaczewsky, Gerard Swartz, Edo de Waart and Leonard Slatkin.
In 2006 Johnson received the F. Melius Christiansen Award from the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN). The lifetime achievement award -- the highest honor from the association -- is presented annually to a Minnesota conductor whose career has provided outstanding contributions and distinguished service to choral music in Minnesota.
Currently, Johnson is associate conductor and director of special events for Philip Brunelle's VocalEssence and is active as a clinician specializing in women's literature.