Dr. Sigurd Johnson recently retired as an Associate Professor of Music, Director of Orchestral Activities and Percussion Studies in the Challey School of Music at North Dakota State University. From 2008 to 2021 Johnson was the Director of NDSU Gold Star Marching Band and was responsible for all the university athletic bands. Johnson was also the primary director of the University Band during his 18 years with the CSoM.

Prior to his appointment at NDSU, he served as Director of Bands and Percussion at Valley City State University in Valley City, ND; Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Rust College in Holly Springs, MS; and as a percussion arranger and instructor on the staff of the University of Memphis Marching Band.

While living in the mid-south, Dr. Johnson was a member of the percussion section of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, an active jazz and theater freelance performer and a clinician/adjudicator. He also spent four years teaching and performing in Norway. Dr. Johnson also recently retired after 25 years as a faculty member at the International Music Camp, where he was also an executive member of the IMC board and Past President of the IMC US Corporation.

Johnson served as the East Region Band Representative for the North Dakota Music Education Association, is a past president of the North Dakota National Band Association; and served as North Dakota State Chair for the collegiate chapters of the Music Educators National Conference (NAFME). Johnson also served as Chapter President of the North Dakota Percussive Arts Society.

He remains active in the upper Midwest as a band, percussion, jazz ensemble clinician and adjudicator, as well as a guest conductor of Festival and Honor bands. Prior to retirement, Dr. Johnson was a Yamaha Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets Artist as well as a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Instruments Education Team.