Open Studio: UK Choral Director Jefferson Johnson talks about his 30 plus year career and what's next

By Tom Musgrave

Published May 15, 2026 at 9:05 AM EDT

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The University of Kentucky School of Music closed its academic year in grand fashion with a Celebration Weekend at Singletary Center for the Arts. It also marked the final concert for longtime choral activities director Jefferson Johnson who will retire this June. He talks about arriving at UK in 1995 and the maturation of the choral program over that span. Johnson says he plans to continue as artistic director and conductor of the Lexington Singers.

Show links:

https://uknow.uky.edu/arts-culture/uk-school-music-celebrates-year-end-performances-featuring-uk-orchestra-choirs-wind

https://www.lexsing.org/about-us.html#/

Open Studio

Tom Musgrave

Tom Musgrave is a senior public relations writer for the University of Kentucky and editor of the daily campuswide electronic newsletter UKNow. Prior to joining the UK staff, Tom spent nine years as the Kentucky Arts Council’s communications director. In 2018 he created the arts council’s monthly podcast, Kentucky ArtsCast, serving as primary host and executive producer. Tom’s first job in state government was working for Virginia Moore at the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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