Biography

Christopher Johnson was born and raised in Rochester, NY where he graduated from Nazareth College with a B.M. in Education. While in Rochester he studied voice with World-Renowned Bass/Baritone Thomas Paul at the Eastman School of Music. He then spent many years as a teacher, eventually landing in New Jersey, where he developed an award-winning choir at the prestigious Wardlaw-Hartidge School in Edison NJ. He loved teaching, but loved performing more, spending many summers as a soloist at Camp-of-the-Woods in the Adirondack Mountains, and becoming active in the Rochester arts scene in productions at RAPA, Rochester Opera, Off-Monroe Players, Theatre Arts Playhouse, as a featured soloist for the Greece and Irondequoit Chorales, and as a soloist for many of the local churches.

Then one March day in 2003 he found himself in Ripley-Grier Studios in New York City auditioning for Peter Grey Terhune as a singer aboard a Radisson Voyager.…the rest as they like to say is history…Since that fateful day, he has been a full-time performer and is continuing to live out his dream. Some of the last 6 years he spent performing around the world in places like St. Petersburg, Bora Bora, Melbourne, Venice, Barcelona, Santorini, Amsterdam, Shanghai, and Glacier Bay up in Alaska as a lead entertainer for Radisson, Oceania, and most recently aboard Majestic America Cruise Lines, where he developed a “Big Band to Billy Joel” Headliner show and also served as Cruise Director. Recent regional credits include Smudge in Forever Plaid and Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel in Grease at the Theatre Barn in New Lebanon, NY and Ralph Sheldrake in Irving Berlin's White Christmas at Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN. Recently he began spreading his wings into film and has had leading roles with some very promising young directors at New York University and New York Film Academy. 

Christopher is a lover of Opera and has performed with both the New Jersey Opera in productions of Pagliacci and Cavaleria Rusticana, and Rochester Opera in productions of Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, and Tosca.  He is also a concert soloist and has performed as a Headliner in Ontario California and Boise Idaho.

He currently resides in NYC where he continues to pursue his dreams! He is so thankful to friends and family for their never-ending love and support and most of all to God from who all blessing flow!
 

Testimonials

“As Special Enrichment Lecturer for the Regatta Cruise Ship--on the Oceania Cruise Line—I played a prominent role in an eleven day Caribbean cruise. One of my great pleasures was attending the nightly entertainment.  Without question, Chris Johnson was the most outstanding musical performer on the ship.  One evening he gave a solo performance, singing Broadway tunes. He was marvelous then, and in the group productions, too.  Chris has an engaging personality, both on stage and when he is mingling with audiences afterward.  Anyone who books him will benefit from the talents of a future megastar.  Your audiences will thank you for his top-level entertainment."
- Bill Lampton, Ph.D., President of  Championship Communication, author and professional speaker

"I first heard Chrisopher Johnson at an evening concert attended by hundreds of people in the beautiful Adirondack mountains of New York State.  I will never forget the magnificent baritone voice of this young man as he sang some of the great songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. That very evening, without any hesitancy, I made my way backstage and extended an invitation for Chris to come share his awesome vocal talent in California where I am the director of a concert series now in its 20th season. He graciously accepted. We are anxious for a return performance!"
- Robert E. Soderblom,M.D.,FACP. Director of Calimesa Community Concerts.

"While Music Director at Camp-of-The-Woods, a family summer resort in New York, I had the privilege of working with top-ranked, nationally auditioned musicians and singers. Mr. Chris Johnson was one of the most outstanding during my tenure. He is a very talented and multi-faceted singer, who can sing all musical styles: from Broadway to Classical, from Secular to Religious and everything with fine musical taste. In addition, he is one of the most delightful and caring people I know. I give him my highest recommendation."
- Hector Guzman, Music Director, Plano Symphony, Irving Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Filarmonica de Jalisco

 "Chris Johnson is a talented performer with a rich baritone voice. I have seen him perform hundreds of times and each time he was very special. Besides his musical talent, he is a delightful man with good people skills. He is easy to work with, and I would recommend him enthusiastically".
- Norm Sonju, Retired Founder & President/GM Dallas Mavericks, '80 - '96 Former Chairman/CEO, CAMP-of-the-WOODS, family resort

"I was entertained by Chris Johnson, along with other members of the PGT cast, in many performances aboard the RSS Voyager while we sailed around the world in 2004.  The shows, in which he played principal parts, were always enjoyable even though I saw each of them several times over a period of four+ months.  In my opinion he has an excellent singing voice and his interpretations of many classic pieces from Gilbert and Sullivan and Rogers and Hammerstein to Verdi and Puccini were always a pleasure to watch and a delight to hear.  He is a musician, singer and mover of consummate talent with a commanding stage presence that is imbued with the aura of humility always present in a performing artist of stature."
- Anthony Sweeney, Opera Director (Patience - G & S & Cendrillon - Massenet), Royal Academy of Music, London Assistant Director (Les Troyens - Berlioz), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Guest Lecturer (Drama/Dance)University of Texas and University of Houston

"We were thrilled to have such a dynamic performer come to our school. Chris brings great energy and enthusiasm to both his performances and his workshops.
We were lucky to be the first school to view his newest piece, "Something's Coming", a great combination of musical theatre favorites and a motivational message. The kids really enjoyed his down-to-earth personality and positive nature."
- Christina Enoch, Director of Dramatic Arts, Oldfield's School, Glencoe Maryland