Texas State faculty member wins the Texas Medal of Arts

Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson. Photo by: James Goulden

Dr. Craig Hella Johnson and his ensemble, Conspirare, will be honored with a Texas Medal of Arts on February 27^th, for their excellence in the performing arts world. The award comes as Grammy-winning Conspirare celebrates 25 years of choral excellence, with director Craig Hella Johnson at the head through it all.

Johnson joined Texas State School of Music in the fall of 2012 as a professor of practice and the first Artist in Residence after serving as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Austin from 1990 to 2001. He is a composer and arranger, as well as an educator. In October of 2018, Conspirare performed music from his piece ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. During his 25 years directing Conspirare they have produced 11 albums on the Harmonia Mundi label, one with Clarion Records, and several live recordings.

The Texas Medal of Arts is far from the first recognition of Johnson’s work. In 2008 he was part of the seventh group of individuals inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, followed by a 2009 Chorus America Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal. 2011 brought Johnson the Citation of Merit from the international professional music fraternity, Mu Phi Epsilon, and in 2012 he was invited to speak at TEDxAustin.  Johnson was designated the official Texas State Musician for 2013 by Texas Legislature and in 2015 he was awarded the Best Choral Performance Grammy for Conspirare’s album The Sacred Spirit of Russia.

“We are thrilled and deeply honored to be in the company of our wonderful fellow artists who are receiving the 2019 Texas Medal of the Arts,” shared Johnson. “And we feel especially proud to be making music here in the vibrant and diverse state of Texas,” he continued.

The 10^th Biennial Texas Medal of Arts ceremony will take place at the Long Center for Performing Arts on February 27^th.