Amy Johansen was appointed Sydney University Organist in 1998. Her duties include performing at over sixty graduations and ceremonies annually on the University's splendid von Beckerath organ, as well as overseeing and performing in the organ recital series. She is also an Honorary Carillonist at the University.

Born and educated in the United States, Ms Johansen earned the Bachelor of Music degree and Performer's Certificate in Organ at the University of Florida, as a pupil of Willis Bodine. She then completed her Masters Degree at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with David Mulbury. Postgraduate study took her to London where she studied with Thomas Trotter, and Paris where she studied with Naji Hakim, with generous assistance from the San Francisco AGO Chapter and the Frank Huntington Beebe Award. Although her repertoire encompasses all periods of music, it was her first CD, The Embrace of Fire, devoted to the organ music of Naji Hakim, which initially brought her widespread acclaim.

Internationally she has performed organ recitals in England, France, Norway, the USA and New Zealand, and carillon recitals in Australia and the USA. Within Australia she maintains an active recital schedule. She frequently appears with Australian ensembles including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Sydney Philharmonia Choir, the Sydney University Graduate Choir and the Sydney Chamber Choir. In 2000 she was the organist for the internationally televised Symphony of a Thousand (Mahler) which was part of the Olympic Cultural Festival. This event was particularly noteworthy as Amy played on the organ of the Sydney Town Hall, 20 miles away from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which was located in the Sydney Olympic Superdome. In July of the same year, she organized and performed in the Bachathalon; a three-day festival where the complete organ works of J. S. Bach were performed by 26 Sydney organists at the Great Hall, University of Sydney.

Her performances have been broadcast on American Public Radio's Pipedreams, the Australian Broadcasting Company, and the British Broadcasting Company. She has made several CD recordings which are available on the Move and Pro Organo labels. One of her Move CDs offers a special novelty, showcasing both the Great Hall organ and the University carillon (played by University Carillonist Jill Forrest), and includes two tracks combining both instruments.

Amy is married to Robert Ampt, the Sydney City Organist (playing the famous Hill and Son Grand Organ in the Sydney Town Hall). Together they have developed two specialities - the playing of organ duets, and the presentation of children's "Introduction to the Organ" program. She also plays regularly in an oboe and organ duo with the acclaimed British oboist, Celia Craig.

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