Dr. Kenneth Johnson is a trombonist and educator currently located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is originally from Fredericksburg, VA, where he began playing trombone in elementary school under the guidance of his musician parents. He has been the Principal Trombonist of Sinfonia Gulf Coast in Destin, Fl since 2017 and is a founding member of the Brass Institutes of America where he has served on the faculty since 2013. This past fall he also joined the staff at Notre Dame of De Pere, where he teaches Instrumental and General Music. 

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Prior to his move to Wisconsin, Kenneth was Principal Trombonist of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Bass Trombonist of the Gainesville Orchestra from 2018 to 2022. He also had the opportunity to perform as Second Trombonist with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra for their 2022 Winter Season. An active chamber musician, Kenneth is a founding member of Invicta Trio, a trio composed of trombone, violin and piano. The group is passionate about new music and has commissioned new works from Frank Gulino, Chris Neiner and Mikeila McQuestion. Additionally, he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra, Manhattan Transfer, Mary Wilson, Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche, Wu Man, the Doo Wop Project, Morgan James, Matthew Morrison, the Vice City Brass, the Columbus (IN) Philharmonic Brass Quintet, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Tidewater Winds,  Panama City Pops, Albany (GA) Symphony Orchestra, the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, and in numerous shows at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. He has given recitals and masterclasses at Old Dominion University, the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Mary Washington, the Lift Music Recital Fund, and the Thomasville Arts Series. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, the Brass Institutes of America Faculty Ensemble, the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra, and the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra.

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A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Kenneth has been a finalist in National and International competitions such as: the 2016 International Trombone Association Alto Trombone Competition and the 2014 American Trombone Workshop National Tenor Trombone Solo Competition Division II. He was also selected to the Fellow Class of the 2017 Alessi Seminar. 

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As a home studio recording artist, Kenneth has recorded for PlayBill with Seth Sikes, BIVA Broadcasts, as well as the podcasts: [insert movie here}: The Musical! and the award-winning Bite Sized Broadway. He also recorded the premier recordings of Eric Ziolek’s “Fragments” for solo trombone and Elias Tanenbaum’s “Coming Together” for violin and trombone as part of the American Composers Alliance “Shelter Music” initiative. Additionally, he can be heard on the Album  “Earthling Sessions” by and “The Unity Song” by San Diego-based rock band: Jackslacks.

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Accustomed to teaching in the public school system as well as in private schools and studios, he has served as Director of Bands at Wakulla Middle School and Raa Middle School. and taught privately at Playground Music Center Tallahassee, Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy, Stafford Music Center, and the summer festivals: the Fredericksburg Brass Institute, Tidewater Brass Institute, FSU Summer Music Camps, and Music for the Sake of Music Summer Festival in Green Bay, WI.

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In 2020 he completed his doctoral studies at Florida State University, where he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Dr. John Drew. His Doctoral treatise is  titled: “Environmental Engagement in the Concert Hall: Programing Experiences, Teaching Activism”” was published the same year through Florida State University He earned his Master’s degree in Trombone Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with Peter Ellefson. In 2013, he graduated cum laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, where he studied with Dr. Keith Jackson and Dr. Brian Plitnik. He received additional instruction from Dr. Kevin Jones and Wayne Wallace at FSU and IU respectively. 

 

Learn more at his website: https://www.kennethjohnsontrombone.com/

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