Orkester 20:20 brings together 20 outstanding professional musicians based in Vestfold and Telemark. With deep connections to national and international artists across genres—from classical and jazz to pop and electronic—they represent the vibrant, genre-crossing spirit of today’s music scene. These are performers, educators, composers, and leaders who shape the region’s cultural life through everything they do.
Orkester 20:20 is committed to developing a unique sound by commissioning and performing original music created specifically for the ensemble. Each new project grows our repertoire, with the long-term goal of building entire programs around newly composed works. Awakenings—our first full-scale production—features music by Artistic Director Chris Johnson, marking the launch of Orkester 20:20’s bold musical journey.
Orkester 20:20 is designed as a modern orchestra—one that reflects the way we listen to music today. Audiences are no longer tied to one genre at a time. Whether in film scores, video games, or live shows, we’re used to hearing classical strings alongside synths, jazz harmonies with pop vocals. Orkester 20:20 embraces this fusion, performing music that moves fluidly between styles and traditions. It’s an orchestra built for modern ears.
Chris Johnson
Composer | Arranger | Conductor
Chris Johnson earned his Master's Degree in Composition and Contemporary Music from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), UK. He studied composition with Professor Adam Gorb, analysis with Professor Douglas Jarman, and conducting with Clark Rundell.
A published composer, Chris' work is featured in the British Music Collection. In 2013, he was accepted into the Composers Society in Norway, where he has lived since 2007.
Chris is widely regarded as an arranger, known for his versatility in writing for diverse ensembles and styles. His catalog includes over 100 arrangements for Symphony Orchestra, Brass & Wind Bands, Choirs, and Vocal Groups, with several recorded and broadcast on Norwegian TV.
Committed to expanding access to new music and high-quality music education, Chris has written curricula, developed large-scale collaborative projects, and worked extensively as a conductor and educator, mentoring students, amateur musicians, and young professionals.
He is the Conductor and Artistic Leader of Orkester 20:20, a Vestfold-based ensemble of professional musicians exploring the fusion of diverse contemporary styles. Their debut recording, Awakenings, featuring Chris' compositions and arrangements, will be released in Spring 2025.
