Conductors
William V. Johnson
William Johnson has been Professor of Music at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California USA since 1966. He is presently coordinator of instrumental music and conducts the university Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.
Since his arrival forty years ago, Cal Poly's wind and percussion ensembles have distinguished themselves with performances at important international musical events in Vienna, Austria and Geneva, Switzerland. His ensembles have performed at national conventions of the American Bandmasters Association and at regional conferences of the College Band Directors National Association. His groups have gone on concert tours of Japan, New Zealand and Australia performing in venues such as Beethoven Hall in Tokyo, Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, New Zealand, the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. Recently the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble and Choir went on a European tour performing in major concert halls in Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague.
In great demand as a consultant, Professor Johnson has been a guest conductor, lecturer and clinician throughout the United States, Japan, Eastern and Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Korea and Singapore.
For two years, 1993–1995, Johnson served as the President of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and secretary of that association from 1987 to 1991. He was the Executive Director for the International Conference for Conductors, Composers and Publishers held in Manchester, England in 1981, an event that resulted in the formation of WASBE. He was the Conference Chairman for the 9th WASBE Conference held in San Luis Obispo, California, July 5-11, 1999. Currently he is the Chairperson of the WASBE Foundation.
Johnson was elected into the American Bandmasters Association in 1984 and served as host for the 73rd ABA convention held in San Luis Obispo in 2007. He is also a member of the College Band Directors National Association and is past President of the Western Division. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi national band fraternity and is the Sponsor of Cal Poly's Iota Pi Chapter. He has recently served as Kappa Kappa Psi's national Vice President for Professional Relations.
Johnson is a founding member and Musical Director of the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, an organization of 48 wind and percussion players that specializes in the performance of the finest in wind band literature. The San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra was formed in 1999 and consists of both professional and amateur musicians in the California Central Coast area of California. He has been a member of the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club since 1969.
Johnson is a native of Crossville, Tennessee USA. He received his Bachelor's Degree in music from the Indiana University School of Music where he studied the euphonium with the late William Bell, former tuba virtuoso of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He served as Director of Bands at Seeger Memorial High School in West Lebanon, Indiana for three years, 1962-65, before joining the band staff at The University of Michigan. While at Michigan, he studied conducting with the late Dr. William D. Revelli and the late Elizabeth Green while earning his Masters Degree in music.
He was selected as one of three Distinguished Teachers at Cal Poly for the 1975-76 school year.
Christopher J. Woodruff
Christopher Woodruff was recently appointed to Associate Director of Bands at Cal Poly. In addition to his responsibilities with the concert bands and Mustang Band, he teaches courses in music theory and brass methods. A graduate of Louisiana State University and Northwestern University, he has served six years as Director of Bands at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania just prior to his move to the Central Coast. In recent years, he was recognized with Lycoming College’s Outstanding Service to the Institution and Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching awards. As a conductor, he has appeared with the Penn Central Wind Band, chamber players of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, and the Northshore Concert Band. As a trumpet player, he has played with the Baton Rouge Symphony, Nittany Valley Symphony, Billtown Brass Band and the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra.