Dr. Michael Johnson
Adjunct Instructor
Office: Fine Arts Complex, Room 222
Email: mjohnson@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-654-1240
Professional Profile
Dr. Michael Johnson is a retired public-school band/orchestra director, counselor, and administrator. He taught grades 6-12 for over 30 years in Amarillo, Canyon and San Angelo, Texas. Dr. Johnson holds a BME in Music Education in bassoon and organ from West Texas State University, a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting from West Texas State University and a Doctor of Music Arts degree from Texas Tech University in composition. Dr. Johnson also holds all-level Texas Mid-Management Certification and is a licensed school counselor for the State of Texas.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Johnson taught band at Lee Junior High School in San Angelo, band at Canyon High School, Canyon Junior High School and Valleyview Junior High School in Canyon ISD, band and orchestra at Crockett Junior High School, band at Houston Middle School and was the last combination band and orchestra director at Tascosa High School in the Amarillo ISD, taking the marching band to the area marching contest for the first time in the school’s history. Dr. Johnson’s bands and orchestras consistently received superior ratings at contests and festivals both in and out of the state of Texas. He also served as a guidance counselor, testing coordinator and class principal at Tascosa High School where he was the coordinator of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration and was the coordinator of the Tascosa High School Hall of Fame. Dr. Johnson’s service as a church organist has spanned over 50 years. He served as organist of Christ Lutheran Church in Amarillo for 7 years and was the Director of Music for Trinity Lutheran Church in Amarillo for 41 years where he conducted both the adult and handbell choir while serving as the main organist. He also served as organist for the Amarillo Gold Sox, minor league affiliate of the San Diego Padres, the Amarillo Dillas, and the West Texas State Basketball team. Dr. Johnson retired from Trinity Lutheran in 2017 and still serves many churches in the Texas Panhandle as a substitute organist. Dr. Johnson is a former member of the Amarillo Symphony, the San Angelo Symphony and was the first bassoonist for the Plainview Symphony after its founding in the 1970s. From 2012-107 he taught bassoon, jazz history and music appreciation at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. At WTMAU, Dr. Johnson is an adjust instructor of music theory, American Film Music, and Organ.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Johnson and his wife Gretta have two grown children, Brittany and Summer. He is a freelance photographer for USA Today Sports and Motorsport.com. Dr. Johnson also is a sports video journalist for ABC 7 television in Amarillo where his work has aired nationally. His sports photos consistently win national awards and in 2017 he was awarded the photo of the year for his work at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Dr. Johnson's photos appear weekly in national news outlets and he is currently the longest serving photographer at Texas Motor Speedway where his is a member of the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame committee.