Finlandia Foundation Award
for
Craig Randal Johnson
Performer of the Year 1999

Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year: Craig Johnson
reprinted from The Finnish American Reporter - July 1998

At its 1998 annual meeting, the Finlandia Foundation named pianist, conductor, and string bassist Craig Johnson its Performer of the Year (POY).

Craig, a Minnesota native and resident of Minneapolis, will be officially introduced to the Finnish American community in his POY capacity at FinnFest USA '98 in Gorham, Maine, on July 11. As Finlandia Foundation's Performer of the Year, Craig will perform in six or more locations over the next 12 - 18 months with his travel partially supported by the Finlandia Foundation Trust.

Educated at the University of Minnesota (B.A.) and Northwestern University (M.M.), Craig's current musical activity features 19th and 20th century Finnish music, contemporary American music, and the music of Hanns Eisler and Bertolt Brecht.

In March, Craig played a program of contemporary American music at the Taivallahdenkirkko in Helsinki. He was also a performer at last year's FinnFest in Minot, ND. For the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of Finnish Independence in Minneapolis, Craig organized and conducted a 40-piece orchestra in a program that featured orchestral works by Jean Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara, as well as Finnish patriotic music. Craig has also peformed extensively elsewhere in the United States, and in Europe.

Arrangements for performances can be made by contacting Craig at 95 Seymour Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414; phone: 612-378-2381; fax: 612-379-0242; and e-mail: musiccrj@visi.com

Finlandia Foundation coordinator for the POY program is Arthur E. Koski, 7121 Andrea Lane, Morrison, CO 80465; phone: 303-697-4825; fax: 303-697-6065; and e-mail: akosken@aol.com.

Mr. Johnson has already been engaged to perform at the Scandinavian Ball in Denver on October 17, the premier social event of Colorado's Scandinavian community. Last year's performers were the Ameriikan Poijat led by Paul Niemisto.

The Finnish American Reporter - July 1998