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Mr. Johnson has supported music education through leadership in and out of school. In 46 years D.L. has conducted over 1400 different works, and at last count 956 school related performances. As President of CMEA served as a lobbyist for Arts Education in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.  As best as can be determined, D.L. Johnson is one of the few, and possibly the only, American high school band director to ever conduct the People’s Liberation Army Band. 

 

Two honorary performances include performing as California’s only representative to the Inaugural Parade for President William Jefferson Clinton (1997), and as California’s only representative to the Dedication Parade for the WWII Memorial (2004) both in Washington, D.C.. 

 

In 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017 Mr. Johnson’s bands at NMCHS were the special guests of the Hebei Provincial Governments of the Peoples Republic of China, with a project they called “PEACE THROUGH MUSIC.”  On all concert exchange tours they participated in eight to ten special “Friendship Concerts” between the two nations.   No other high school band program, up to that time, had ever attempted a project of this nature. 

 

Professionally, D.L. Johnson has met with two American Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and two Chinese Presidents Hu Jintau, and Xi JinPing either as CMEA President or as a representative of American music education.

 

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:

Present, Assistant Conductor and French Horn member, Del Monte Brass, Monterey Naval Postgraduate School   

Present, French Horn member, Monterey Peninsula College Concert Band   

Present, Past-Presidents Council, CMEA, California Music Educators Association

TAMC (Transportation Agency for Monterey County) Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Facility Advisory Committee     Representative for Carmel By-The-Sea              

ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS:

Recipient:   May 2014 Quarterfinalist, “National Music Educator of the Year” The Grammy  Foundation/Recording Arts Foundation “The Grammy’s”

Recipient:   2013 "50 Directors Who Make A Difference," (California) National Award, (D.L. Johnson)

Recipient:   2007 “Man Of The Year” Award, LULAC, The League of United Latin American Communities

Recipient:   Educators Award for the 2006 “Champion Of The Arts”, from The Arts Council of Monterey County

Recipient:   2006 “Directors Award,” Heritage Festivals

Recipient:  "Outstanding Music Educators Award" presented by the California Association for Music Education- CMEA Central Coast Section:

Recipient:   “Excellence in Education”  North Monterey County High School Board of Education, 1997 and 2014

Recipient:   FRONT PAGE interview "Up Close" music teacher for the September 1999 issue of SB&O Magazine [School Band & Orchestra].

Recipient:   1996 "Condor of the Year" award from the faculty and, staff, and students of North Monterey County High School for excellence in education

Served:   Past-President of CMEA, The California Association for Music Education, & State Convention Host in 1998 & 2000. He served as President of CMEA  1998-2000:  CAAE-California Association for Arts Education 1996-2000, CAC-California Arts Council 1998-2000, NARAS-National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences “The Grammy’s” Education Rep 1997-2000, LACAE-Legislative Action Coalition for Arts Education, 1982-1997

           

PRESENTLY, Writer and Lecturer for SB&O Magazine including recent nationally published articles on: "China the Worlds Greatest Concert Hall", "Show Me The Money" (grant writing), "Are We Having Fun Yet!"(band competition issues), "Mixing Music and Politics"(politics w/school and community), “The Best and Worst Job in Public Education”,  ”Succeeding as a One-Man Show”, “Is Your Band Famous?  Mine is!” (Marketing Your Band Program), and most recent articles, “No Child Left Behind-- Except Band Kids” (Why Johnny Didn’t Join Band. A view from the other side.), and “Tired of Music Festival Tours?”  Try an Exchange Tour,” and many more.   Mr. Johnson’s next article are called “What Happens When Things Go Wrong”, “Has The Mission Changed,” and “So Your On The Road,” “In California: Education Is Not Equal.”  Mr. Johnson has traveled all over the country as a Music Education Lecturer at various conventions, banquets, universities, etc. on topics related to his writing.

 

WRITTEN COMMENDATIONS RECEIVED:

President Bill Clinton, Congressman, White House Chief of Staff, and now US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Congressman Sam Farr (twice), U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, State Senators Henry Mello and Bruce McPherson, and Assemblymen Peter Frusetta, Fred Keeley, and Rusty Areias. D.L.’s most recent commendations came from Governor and Vice Governor of Hebei Province, Peoples Republic of China, and John Mahlman--MENC Executive Director and Ardene Shafer Asst. Executive Director for Member Programs and Publications.  Mr. Johnson’s most recent commendation came from the Board of Supervisors of Monterey County.

 

PROCLAMATIONS RECEIVED:

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Sponsored by Congressman Sam Farr, 1998

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, Sponsored by State Senator Bruce McPherson, 1998

CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, Sponsored by State Assemblyman, Fred Keeley, 2000

MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERVISORS.  1997, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017

 

Although retired from teaching full time D.L. Johnson still does clinics and session around the state and country, on Grant Writing For Music Teachers. Mr. Johnson’ ideas on the subject have been published in several music educator magazines. D.L.’s views on music education (BAND) have also been printed in several magazines. Mr. Johnsons successful efforts in grant writing has landed the North Monterey County High School Band program over a 3/4 million dollars in the last 20 years alone.

           

OTHER AREAS:

Vice-President and President, Fresno-Madera Music Educators Association;  Vice-President and President, Central Coast Section, CMEA;   County Rep. and Medals Chairman, Central Section, CMEA;

Director/Coordinator/Writer, Half-time Activities, at the City-County All-Star Football Game(750 student participants), Fresno State University, Fresno, CA (six years)1978-1984;   Honor Band Coordinator (four years) , CCS-CMEA;   Honor Jazz Band Coordinator(four years), CCS-CMEA;   CCS Jazz Festival Coordinator(five years);   CCS Large Group Music Festival Coordinator(six years), CCS-CMEA;music;