In addition to his responsibilities in Great Falls, Maestro Johnson continues to maintain a busy schedule having guest conducting engagements with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Germany and France.  In February 2009 Johnson was invited by the United States State Department to conduct an American music program with the National Philharmonic of Moldova.

Johnson has served as the music director of the Glacier Symphony (MT) from 1982 to 1997 and later of the Mesa Symphony (AZ) from 1997 to 2005.  He served as the director of orchestras at the Red Lodge Music Festival (MT) from 2006 to 2011.

Gordon Johnson has been recognized by the League of American Orchestrasthe American Society of Composers, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Carnegie Hall Foundation for his contribution to the musical arts.  The State of Minnesota conferred a special commendation to Johnson, on behalf of its citizens, for recognition of his contributions. Johnson was award the Governor’s Award for the Arts by Montana Governor Steve Bullock at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Helena in 2016.

In addition to the Great Falls Symphony he is conductor emeritus of the Great Falls Youth Orchestrawhere he was directly involved in the training future generations of orchestral musicians. He is past President of the Military Affairs Committee and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. In 2012 he was awarded the Distinguished Patriot Medal by the Department of Military Affairs Adjutant General of the State of Montana.

During his many years of concertizing Johnson has served as accompanist to many superb musicians including world renowned artists Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Sir James Galway, Evelyn Glennie and Joshua Bell.  He has collaborated in concert with many of America’s most popular artists including Art Garfunkel, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Kansas, America, Lee Ann Rimes and Charlie Daniels.