Thor Johnson composer / arranger
date of birth: 10.06.1913
date of death: 16.01.1975
Thor Martin Johnson (June 10, 1913 January 16, 1975) was an American conductor. He was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was president of the Alpha Rho chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. He was the first recipient of the fraternity's national Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award in 1952. He was an initiate of the Alpha Xi chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
From 1940 to 1942, he was music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was a community orchestra at the time. In 1947 he was appointed conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the youngest American born conductor of a major American orchestra at that time. That same year, Johnson was named the first Music Director of the Ojai Music Festival in Ojai, California. He served in that capacity from 19471950 and again from 195253.
From 1940 to 1942, he was music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was a community orchestra at the time. In 1947 he was appointed conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the youngest American born conductor of a major American orchestra at that time. That same year, Johnson was named the first Music Director of the Ojai Music Festival in Ojai, California. He served in that capacity from 19471950 and again from 195253.
play all titles of this page