Technical Sergeant Michael Johnson joined the United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson Air Force Base Colorado, in December 2023. He currently performs as an oboist with the Concert Band, Marching Band, and Academy Winds.
TSgt Johnson has performed extensively with numerous orchestras and ensembles throughout North America. Prior to his appointment to the Academy Band, he was the solo English Horn of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and he performed regularly with the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, Modesto Symphony, Arizona Philharmonic, and Austin Symphony. Additionally, he has appeared as a guest artist at many festivals including Music in the Mountains, Victoria Bach Festival, Arizona Bach Festival, and Alba Music Festival.
Dr. Johnson received his formal music education from the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of New York Philharmonic oboist Robert Botti. He furthered his studies at McGill University in Montreal studying with longtime Montreal Symphony principal oboist Theodore Baskin. In May of 2023 Dr. Johnson completed his DMA in Oboe Performance at Arizona State University under the direction of Professor Martin Schuring. His thesis titled “French Court Music: A Modern Performance Approach, Compendium to P.D. Philidor’s Trio Suite No. 2 in E Minor” centered on accessibility and adaption of music from the court of Louis XIV, as well as chronicled the history of the Philidor family of court composers.
EDUCATION
2010 High School Diploma, Westwood High School, Austin, TX
2015 Bachelor of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
2017 Master of Music, McGill University, Montreal, QC
2023 Doctor of Musical Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
ASSIGNMENT
Dec 2023 – Present, USAF Academy Band, Peterson SFB, CO
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Technical Sergeant December 20, 2023
(CURRENT AS OF MARCH 2024)