#233 - WILLIAM V JOHNSON, Director of Bands
SUMMARY
This week Bill "J" Johnson joins David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design. Bill is the Director of Bands, Emeritus, California Polytechnic State University; Past President, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles; and a Member of the American Bandmasters Association. J shares his thoughts on teaching, leadership, directing, and conducting various bands, and his life story including performing in different venues around the world, his greatest mentors, building a music program, and much more. Enjoy!
ABOUT “J”
William V. Johnson, Professor Emeritus at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, served as the university’s Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music from 1966 to 2010, 44 years.
He is Past President of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). He also serves as a consultant for World Projects International Music Productions.
As an arranger and transcriber of music for the wind band, Johnson’s works have been performed by wind bands from many countries. As a guest conductor, lecturer and clinician, Johnson has conducted wind ensembles and orchestras in the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Korea, Singapore, China, Hungary, and Ireland.
Johnson was elected into the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) in 1984 and served as host for both the 73rd and 82nd ABA conventions held in San Luis Obispo in 2007 and 2016. In March 2014, he was elected to the ABA Board of Directors. He is also a member of the College Band Directors National Association and is past President of the Western Division. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi national band fraternity and was the Sponsor of Cal Poly’s Iota Pi Chapter. He served as Kappa Kappa Psi‘s national Vice President for Professional Relations.
Johnson is a member of the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club and serves as President of the Board of Directors of Opera San Luis Obispo.
In 1962, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the Indiana University School of Music. While at IU, he studied euphonium with William Bell, former tuba virtuoso of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sousa Band (1902-1971). After serving as Director of Bands at Seeger Memorial High School in West Lebanon for three years, he joined the band staff at The University of Michigan. While at the U of M, he studied conducting with Dr. William D. Revelli (1902-1994) and Elizabeth A. H. Green (1906- 1995) while earning his Masters Degree in music.
He was selected as one of three Distinguished Teachers at Cal Poly. Recently, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Band Directors Assoc
