Johan Severin Svendsen (30 September 1840 – 14 June 1911) was a Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist.

Svendsen's father was a music teacher and military bandmaster, who taught him both the violin and clarinet.

At fifteen he enlisted in the military band at Akershus Fortress, playing clarinet, flute, trombone, and percussion among other instruments.

By the time he finished school, he was working as an orchestral musician, and occasionally made short concert tours as a violinist.

In the summer of 1871, he went to New York City to marry Sarah (Sally, later changed to Bergljot) Levett Schmidt, whom he had met in Paris.

He was conductor of the Musical Society Concerts in Christiania (1872–77), then spent three years in Germany, Italy, England and France.

They were elaborated and orchestrated by Bjørn Morten Christophersen and premiered by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Engeset in 2011.

He was very popular in Denmark and Norway during his lifetime, both as a composer and a conductor, winning many national awards and honors.

In parentheses, composition years and premiere place and date About 50 other minor works, not included in his numbered catalog.