Dennis L. Johnson
Dennis L. Johnson is a graduate of both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He is presently the Director of Bands and Symphony Orchestra at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. At Murray State, he conducts the Chamber Winds, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the University Symphony Orchestra and the pit orchestra for the operas and musicals. He also instructs the undergraduate classes in “Basic” and “Instrumental Conducting” and the graduate sections of “Advanced Instrumental Conducting. Additionally, he serves as a Past President for the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). He has served as Kentucky State Chairman for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) and state collegiate representative for the Kentucky Music Educators’ Association (KMEA).
Under Professor Johnson’s leadership the Murray State University Wind Ensemble has made several prestigious appearances including two special invitational concerts in Carnegie Hall; two appearances at the College Band Directors National Association Conventions and at the International Wind Band Conference in Manchester, England. In the Spring of 2011 the MSU Symphony Orchestra appeared in Chicago’s famed Orchestra Hall and in a KET/PBS documentary surrounding the appearance. Professor Johnson began serving as Clinician and Director for the World Projects Washington DC Festival in 2007 and has served as clinician for their festivals in Sydney, Australia; Disney Hall in California; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. In December 2014, he guest-conducted the Sydney Youth Wind Orchestra (from Sydney, Australia) in concert during the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL. Professor Johnson has also guest conducted the Air Self-Defense Force Band of Japan and the Australian Youth Honors Wind Band in Brisbane, Australia. In the summer of 2013, he served four weeks on the “jury” for the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, The Netherlands.
Professor Johnson has accepted numerous invitations to conduct honor bands, orchestras, professional bands and to present conducting clinics in Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bolivia, China, Colombia, England, Israel, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Hungary, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Canada and in most states throughout the U.S.
He is presently listed in the prestigious Marquis’ “Who’s Who” and the Cambridge “Dictionary of International Biography”.
