Department of Music

Erik Johanson

Tenor Erik Johanson has performed in concert, opera, and recital throughout the United States, in central Europe, and in Singapore. He was first-prize winner in the 1991McMahon International Competition for Singers in Oklahoma and also twice winner of the Friedrich Schorr Prize in Adrian, Michigan.

Operatic roles have included the tenor leads in Faust, Tales of Hoffman, Rossini’s Cinderella, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, La Bohème, La Traviata, and The Mikado, many comprimario roles, as well as numerous appearances in oratorios and cantatas, ranging from Schütz's Christmas Oratorio to Verdi's Requiem.

Across the United States, Mr. Johanson played the role of King Kaspar in Menotti's Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, often with original cast member, David Aiken.

Of Mr. Johanson’s portrayal of the Prince in Rossini’s Cinderella, the Singapore Straits Times wrote: “But it was Erik Johanson as the Prince, Don Ramiro, who held it all together.  He is a young American singer:  There can have been few international debuts as successful as this.”

Of his 1995 Rodolfo in La Bohème with Dorian Opera Theatre of Decorah, Iowa, the critic for the Rochester (Minn.) Post Bulletin said: "[Johanson] sang with a strong, clear voice that soared through the highest phrases."

Mr. Johanson has been a featured artist with the Toledo Symphony, including as the Evangelist in Bach's St. Matthew Passion. He has also been a regular oratorio and operatic soloist with the Lakeside Summer Symphony in Ohio.

In addition to his active schedule, he is associate professor of voice at the University of Toledo Department of Music, husband to violinist/social activist Cecilia Johnson, with whom he frequently concertizes, and doting father of the wise Linnea, now a sophomore at the College of Wooster.

 

To learn more on the topic of singing and training young singers, check out my article entitled A FEW IDEAS ON SINGING AND ON THE TRAINING OF YOUNG SINGERS. To see a chronological listing of my resume and performances, click here: CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING OF PERFORMANCES AND RESUME You can E-mail me at ejohans@uoft02.utoledo.edu To learn more about Voice at the University of Toledo--or if you'd like to chat about voice study or just singing in general--please email me. If you live in the area or if you come to visit the University in person, please let me know. We can set up some time for a sample lesson or lessons, you can observe one of my current student's lessons, or you can sing for me for comments. No strings attached.