As a singer she has been named Performer of the year twice by the Norwegian Society of Composers: individually in 2013, and with Ensemble neoN in 2017.
Aker Johnsen is a classically trained singer, and has also worked as a contemporary dancer, in the Polish Dance Theatre.
Her current activity reflects this versatile background, as some of her more recent work often can be classified as contemporary opera with an extended physical interpretation.
The contribution of Johnsen to Ensemble neoN is more inclined towards experimental vocalizing within the contemporary classical realm.
[1] In 2017–2018, Aker Johnsen starred three times at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet: in Synne Skouen's opera Ballerina, which was based on a play by Arne Skouen,[2] in Femte Rad Produksjoner's Simon,[3] and in the apparently autobiographical Her, a solo performance considered to be a combination of theatre dance and contemporary opera.