Dirk Johnson
Dr. Dirk Johnson serves as the Artistic Director of the Western Colorado Chorale, based in Grand Junction, Colorado, and is the Director of Vocal Ensembles and Assistant Professor of Music at Colorado Mesa University, where he directs the Vocal Arts Ensemble, Vocal Chords Chamber Ensemble, Soprano/Alto Choir, and Tenor/Bass Choir and teaches courses in conducting, choral literature, and choral methods. He formerly served as Artistic Director of the Messiah Choral Society of Grand Junction, Artistic Director of the Charleston Civic Chorus, Director of Choral Activities and Music Department Chair at West Virginia State University and Visiting Professor of Conducting at the University of Virginia. Prior to his work in higher education, Dr. Johnson was Director of Choirs at Timpanogos High School, Pleasant Grove Junior High School, and The Waterford School near Salt Lake City, Utah.
He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting with a cognate in composition from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, a Master’s degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education with a minor in Math Education, magna cum laude, from Brigham Young University. His conducting mentors include Earl Rivers, Dale Warland, Richard Sparks, Ronald Staheli, and Mark Gibson.
An accomplished composer and arranger, Dr. Johnson has received commissions from high school, collegiate, and community choirs from around the country and regularly writes for ensembles under his direction. He was honored as winner of the 2015 John Ness Beck Foundation Award for composition of traditional sacred choral music and is published by Walton Music.
As a professional choral singer, Dr. Johnson sang for two seasons with the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, the region’s premiere professional chorus, performed with Cincinnati’s acclaimed May Festival Chorus, and sang for five years with the Tennessee Chamber Choir. He has performed as tenor soloist in the West Virginia Symphony Chorus performances of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, and Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and performed as tenor soloist on WVSU faculty recitals.