Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 9/8/99
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   95

Editors: Photo accompanies release
PIANIST TO PRESENT GUEST RECITAL AT SOUTHEASTERN
     HAMMOND -- Pianist, conductor and string bassist Craig Randal Johnson of
Minneapolis, the Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year, will present a free guest recital at
Southeastern Louisiana University at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 in Pottle Music Building Auditorium.
     Johnson specializes in 20th century American piano music, Finnish music and the music
of German composer Hanns Eisler. His program at Southeastern will include Eisler's "Sonate fur
Klavier, Op. 1" and works by Jean Sibelius, Wynn-Anne Rossi, Erkki Melartin and Joonas
Kokkonen.
     Johnson's recent solo recital appearances have included programs in Los Angeles, Calif.; 
Denver, Colo.; Iowa City, Iowa; Hartford, Conn., and in Germany and Finland. Last September,
he soloed on the Eisler Centenary Gala Program presented by the West Park Chamber Society in
New York City.
     He  was resident conductor of the Rome Festival in Italy for three seasons,  and
conducted opera and concerts throughout southern Italy. He also was director of music and
conductor at the Stadischen Buhnen Osnabruck in Germany, and was coach/pianist for the
Braunschweig and Bremen opera houses. He has conducted symphonies, orchestras and theatre
productions in Florida and Minnesota.
     Johnson was principal string bassist of the Florida Symphony for four seasons and has
held full time string bass positions with several symphonies. Johnson is a graduate of
Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and the University of Minnesota.
     For additional information, call the Southeastern music department, 504-549-2184.
                             -SLU-
     This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
      www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm