Steven Johannessen is currently in demand as a multi-disciplined creative talent by clients seeking eye-catching visual solutions and designs in their websites, video and audio production, graphics and marketing campaigns. His design skills have been contracted by IBM, Hitachi, CNA Trust, Union Bank Of California, Kurzweil Music Systems, Young Chang America, Horizon Valley Farms, Flagstar Bank, Community Vision and SmartStop, among others. He is experienced in cross-platform digital media deployment and is responsible for creative direction, content and project management for most of the projects he works on.

Recently, Steven has been involved in designing and building websites for financial institutions in the position of Web Creative Director. These firms included CNA Trust, SunAmerica, AXA Advisors, New York Life, Alliance Capital, Franklin-Templeton, TruSource and Union Bank Of California.

  Steven's talent as a keyboardist, singer, songwriter and arranger (performing with Hurricane Creek, Back to Back, FM, Platinum, LipZone, and USAF Band) enabled him to perform in numerous clubs and venues around the United States during the 70's and 80's. His years of performing, MIDI and synthesizer programming, and studio experience gave him a solid background in the music production industry, and enabled him to make the transition into writing and producing television and film cues.

  His original music has been featured on film and episodic television working with his friend, composer and producer FRED MOLLIN, and others. Steven's musical tastes range from classical and jazz, to rock, R&B, and blues, and he typically incorporates all of these styles into his work.

  Steven has created custom synthesizer programming and sound designs for many prominent artists including Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Pink Floyd (Jon Carin), Sade, Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Christopher Cross, Tower of Power, Fred Mollin, Jerry Goldsmith, Joe Sample, Patrick Moraz, The Moody Blues, Rick Wakeman, Dave Mason, Sammy Nestico, JJ Johnson, Brian Wilson, Frank Serafine, Freddie Ravel, Walfredo Reyes, Randy Waldman, Lyle Mays, Wade Preston and Gorky Park.

  Steven was the Director Of Artist Relations and Artist In Residence at Kurzweil Music Systems from 1989 through 1996, where he wrote and produced scores of keyboard, synthesizer and sampling songs for demonstration and performance. He built the Artist Endorsement Program from the ground up in 1990, and it eventually had in it's roster many of the top keyboard players, musicians, and performers of our time.

Additional major responsibilities included directing and managing Kurzweil's trade show efforts around the country. Of note was the annual NAMM show display, where Young Chang and Kurzweil had an 8000 square foot booth complete with multiple small buildings and soundproof demonstration rooms. Steven managed the design, construction and deployment of this booth.

While at Kurzweil, Steven participated materially in the development and marketing of the groundbreaking K2000 and K2500 Synthesizers, as well as the Mark Series Digital Keyboards and Digital Grand Pianos. Steven has been a clinician and guest lecturer for Kurzweil on the subject of electronic music and keyboard performance at universities, trade shows and music technology stores across the United States.

  In 1992 Steven innovated the use of video technology in keyboard (synthesizer) technical support by creating a series of Video Training Manuals for Kurzweil Music Systems' synthesizers and samplers. Created for all digital keyboard lines shipped during the period from 1992 to 1999, these innovative videos were all shot and produced completely in-house. The live feed from the switcher and mixers were digitized and fed to a hard drive array. The entire post production was done on PC computers (Media 100 software). Steven also designed and built the six camera video set and audio/video studio in the company headquarters. Kurzweil was the first company to do so in that industry.

  Steven spends most of his waking hours in the studio working on his animations and composing for his next visual music project. He also finds time to work on other video, web and music projects for selected clients. When not glued to the keyboard or the computer screen he is performing with "Hurricane Creek", a six piece blues and country rock band from Cashiers, North Carolina. Steven currently lives in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina with his wife, Sally, four dogs and three cats.

Owner and Creative Director - Virtuus Media - www.virtuus.com

Rude Boys Music (ASCAP) - My Publishing Company

ASCAP Writer Member

Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), BA, 1984, Cum Laude
Commercial Arranging with Focus on Electronic Synthesis
Principal Instrument Piano, Second Instrument Trombone
Studied Arranging under Bob Freedman and Corey Allen, Synthesis under David Mash, Piano under Bruce Thomas, and Recording Studio Techniques under Bob Rose

Alumni of 561st Air Force Band - 1st Chair Trombone, Vocalist, Backup Piano

Rotary Club International - Member - Paul Harris Fellow

Fluent in HTML4, XHTML, CSS, XSL, XML, Javascript, MIDI, Bass and Treble Clef