Biography

    Johnston is an award-winning composer and an avid performer on electric and classical guitar as well as electric and acoustic bass.  He grew up in Arkansas and was playing blues on Memphis’ famous Beale Street by the age of 21.  At the age of 25, he received a “Talent Scholarship” from Berklee College of Music based on his instrumental performance as well as his compositions.  While in Boston, Johnston studied with composers John Bavicchi, Thomas J. McGah, Arthur Welwood, as well as bassists Barry Smith and Anthony Vitti. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee with a Bachelor of Music Composition degree. 

     While pursuing his Masters degree in composition at the University of Tennessee, Johnston had the opportunity to study composition with Dr. Kenneth Jacobs as well as jazz composition and improvisation with world-renowned jazz artist Donald Brown.  While at UTK, he also studied jazz piano with Jerry Coker and acoustic bass with Rusty Holloway.  After completing his Masters, Johnston stayed in Knoxville and was an adjunct professor in the music departments of Lincoln Memorial University as well as Pellissippi State.  During his time in the southeast, Johnston was a bandleader in the regional music scene, performing 2 to 4 nights a week on average while hosting open mic nights and residing on the music staff at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in East Knoxville.

    Today, Johnston has completed two years of a three-year DMA Composition program in the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.  Along with a doctoral course load, he is also teaching music theory and ear training as part of his graduate assistantship duties.  While in Miami, he has studied music theory pedagogy and composition with former New England Conservatory and Harvard professor Dr. John Stewart.  Also, he has studied film scoring and production aesthetics with former bandleader of the Miami Sound Machine Dr. Raul Murciano.  Currently, Johnston is under the direct tutelage of acclaimed composer Dr. Dennis Kam.  He is also a founding member of the Miami based improvisational group Fridamusiq.