Senior Airman (SrA) Cooper Johnson performs as a horn player with the United States Air Force (USAF) Heritage of America Band. He is a member of Heritage Winds and the Concert Band.
Prior to joining the Air Force, SrA Johnson was a musician with the Orlando Philharmonic, where he performed with conductor Eric Jacobsen of the Virginia Symphony. A1C Johnson holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon, studying with Pittsburgh Symphony principal horn, William Caballero, as well as a Masters in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University, studying with Jonathan Boen. As an undergraduate student, SrA Johnson played in the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Brass Roots in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During the summers SrA Johnson has performed with Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Festival, and The Music Academy of the West. In addition to his primary teachers, SrA Johnson has studied extensively with David Cooper and David Griffin of the Chicago Symphony.
EDUCATION
2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
2021 Masters in Orchestral Studies, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Aug 2021 - present, Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
AF Good Conduct Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Training Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 01 Aug 2021
Senior Airman 08 Oct 2023
(current as of February 2025)