Mr. woody johnson

Elwood "Woody" Johnson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Choral Conducting.  At the age of 14 he aquired his first position as a church organist and by the age of 16 he was directing a church choir and playing the organ at a Lutheran church in Minneapolis.  Over the years he has played or conducted choirs in many local churches.

Mr. Johnson is a well-known music educator throughout Minnesota.  The honor of Minnesota Choral Director of the Year was bestowed upon him in 1988 by the American Choral Directors Association.  He has 14 choral compositions and arrangements in print and is author of a middle-school and junior high textbook called "What is Rock?" which was used extensively throughout the country in the 70s and 80s.  He is former Music Coordinator of the Minneapolis Public School system and taught choral and instrumental music there for 30 years.  He has also taught music courses and choirs at Northwestern College, Fairview, Lutheran Deaconess and University of Minnesota Schools of Nursing.  Mr. Johnson has been teaching at SWCHS for over 7 years.