Craig Hella Johnson, artistic director and founder of Conspirare, was named the Texas State Musician for 2013 by the Texas Legislature.  Induction ceremonies took place April 30, 2013, in the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate.

 

The honorary appointment is for a one-year term.  Flaco Jimenez of San Antonio is the Texas State Musician for 2014. The legislature also named poet laureates, two-dimensional artists and three-dimensional artists for 2013 and 2014.

 

Craig Hella Johnson founded Conspirare in 1992, and the organization is presently celebrating its twentieth anniversary season.  He is highly respected nationwide as a conductor, teacher, songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, and singer.  Johnson is also Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival and Artist in Residence at the Texas State University School of Music.  In addition to these posts, he will become Music Director of the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble in January 2014.
 
The designation of Texas state musician was created by Senate Bill 1043 during the 77th Legislature. Texas state musicians are selected in recognition of years of excellence and dedicated commitment to the arts in Texas.  Johnson is one of only two classical musicians to receive the designation; the other was its first recipient, pianist James Dick.  Nominees must be native Texans or five-year residents of the state. They must have received recognition for high levels of excellence and success in their respective disciplines. They also must have received critical reviews in state, regional or national publications.