ABOUT THE COMPOSER

RWS Music Company | William Johnson

William V. Johnson, Professor Emeritus at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, served as the university’s Director of Bands from 1966 to 2010, 44 years.

Johnson is the past president of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and serves as the President of Opera San Luis Obispo.

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 the 73rd and 82nd ABA conventions held in San Luis Obispo in 2007 and 2016. Since his retirement in 2010, Johnson has become an arranger, transcriber and composer of music for the wind band as well as wind chamber ensembles.

In 1962, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in music from the Indiana University School of Music and his graduate degree in Music from The University of Michigan School of 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 Association and received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal from Kappa Kappa Psi.

Works by William Johnson

Symphony Band Series

Ancient Airs And Dances (Mvt IV)