Theater/Acting Bio
For more than 30 years professional vocalist, educator, songwriter and author Ellen Johnson has trained singers in all genres of music providing solid vocal and performance technique, recording studio coaching, audition preparation, concert/club performance preparation, and workshops. In addition, Ellen has produced singer projects (recordings, DVDs, digital downloads, etc.) working in collaboration with producers, managers, record labels, bands, and songwriters for recording and performance preparation. Many of her past students became recording artists, Broadway actors, performers, scholarship and competition winners, and educators.
Ellen was on the faculty of the Old Globe Theater’s M.F.A. Program, University of San Diego, California Polytechnic University in Pomona, and Jefferson School of Performing Arts among others. She has been a guest clinician or coach at the University of California, San Diego State University, Bradley University, Portland State University, Portland Civic Theater, California State University Los Angeles and a guest speaker at the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) conferences, the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) and the Jazz Improv Live Conference. Most recently she was the musical director and vocal coach for “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” at the Rubicon Theater Summer Youth Program and the vocal coach for lead singers in ”Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Oklahoma” in Ojai, California.
Ellen’s acting and singing career began in her birthplace of Chicago, IL where she studied at Northwestern University, Ted Liss Actor’s Workshop, and the Chicago Actor’s Workshop. She later relocated to the west coast and studied Meisner Technique with Jeff Goldblum and Mark Peligrino (Playhouse West), scene study with Robert Benedetti, vocal coaching with Marni Nixon, Roland Wyatt, George Shirley and Mary Mackenzie along with numerous other workshops and classes in San Diego, New York and Los Angeles. She even worked as a staff member at the La Jolla Playhouse for a couple of years learning the behind the scenes operations. Since that time she has performed in film, tv, webisodes, industrials, voice overs and stage including the Portland Shakespeare Touring Company, San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts, Young Audiences, and Artist’s in Education through the Oregon Arts Commission.
Ellen received her Master’s Degree from San Diego State University; her Bachelor’s of Music from the American Conservatory of Music, opera theater training from AIMS Austria, acting training at Northwestern University, participated in the Music Business Certificate program at UCLA Extension, completed training in Expressive Arts Therapy through the University of Humanistic Studies, and completed training with Eric Maisel in Creativity Coaching. She is the author of the educational training aides, The Vocal Warm Up, You Sing Jazz, and Vocal Builders. Besides her past recordings, Ellen is currently working on a new project, Form and Formless, an app and digital download about the creative process that will feature renowned guitarists Larry Koonse and John Stowell and is the author of Jazz Child: The Story of Sheila Jordan due for publication in the near future. She is also the co-founder of Sound Visions Media, an award winning video production company.
For information on video production go to: www.SoundVisionsMedia.com