Gary Johnston
Gary Johnston
Associate Professor
Orchestratioon & Arranging, Music Technology, Online Appreciation
M.M., Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M.E., Xavier University
B.M.E., Peabody College of Education, Vanderbilt University
Office: FA 375
Phone: 859.572.5687
E-mail: johnston@nku.edu
Gary Johnston, is an Associate Professor of Music at Northern Kentucky University, teaching electronic and computer music technology, orchestration, and music appreciation. In addition, he serves in the community as conductor of the Mt. Auburn Brass Fellowship, a 25 member semi-professional brass and percussion ensemble, and, is president of the board of directors of the Cincinnati Community Orchestra. Gary also serves his community as an amateur radio operator (ham - KI4LA) and as Past Director and current Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Division (OH, KY, MI) of the ARRL (National Association for Amateur Radio - life member). Gary is also a former EMT and current life squad driver for the Edgewood (Ky) Fire/EMS, and has served as Communications Officer for the St. Luke hospital DMAT KY1 (Disaster Medical Assistance Team), part of NDMS and FEMA. He is a member of the executive committee of the Kenton County Republican Party. Gary is married to Nyoka Johnston, commercial real estate agent. and former Covington and Kenton County Commissioner. They have three adult children, Allison, Alan, and Alex (AKA Rick).
Gary is an avid computer user, and former four time President of the Board of Directors of the AppleSiders of Cincinnati; he is also a life member of the AppleSiders of Cincinnati. In addition to Macintosh OSX, Gary also speaks fluent MS-DOS /Windows and VAX / DCL, and can be found frequently as a consultant and/or as an interviewee for local Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky Newspapers.
He has performed as trombonist with the Nashville and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras, as well as serving as principal trombone with the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and the Brighton Brass Band. Gary has served as director of the Boone County High School Jazz Ensemble, The Walnut Hills High School Jazz Ensemble, The Miami University of Ohio Jazz Ensemble, and the Northern Kentucky University Jazz Ensemble. He founded the Walnut Hills Jazz Festival in 1969 (still running), the Miami University Jazz Festival in 1975 (still running), and the NKU Jazz Festival in 1977. Gary was a founding member of the NKU Faculty Brass Quintet in 1977.
He also has toured and/or performed on trombone with such notable artists as the Righteous Brothers, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mel Torme', Issac Hayes, The Glenn Miller Orchestra under Tex Beneke and Paula Kelly, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under Warren Covington, and under Buddy Morrow, Paul Anka, Bobby Vinton, Nancy Wilson, Bob Hope, Eddy Arnold, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Crosby and his "Bob Cats", Ralph Flannigan, and Lana Cantrell. As trombonist with the Commonwealth Brass Quintet, he recorded a series for National Public Radio (NPR). His advanced work includes conducting study with the late Thomas Shippers. Mr. Johnston is an active composer and arranger and member of ASCAP and the Cincinnati Musician's Association Local #1 AFM.
Gary also performs on flugelhorn, trumpet, euphonium, contrabass, piano, and is currently serving as bass trombonist with the Cincinnati Community Orchestra and principal trombonist with the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra. Local bands include Cliff Lash WLW-T Bob Braun Show orchestra, Teddy Rakel's (Raymore) Lookout House Supper Club house orchestra, Buzz Neill's Kings Island show orchestra & Beverly Hills Supper Club house orchestra, the Blue Wisp Jazz Club Orchestra, the Will Hauser Orchestra, Moonlight Gardens house orchestras of Pete Wagner & Charlie Keher, the Andy Brady, "Smitty" Smith, & Pete Metsger park bands. Gary is also the conductor of the River City concert band, and the Mt. Auburn Brass Fellowship.