Sacred Heart University Director of Bands Keith Johnston has a long and varied career conducting ensembles throughout the USA. Most recently Music Director for the Troupers Light Opera Company (CT), he has also served as the Music Director for the Onondaga Civic Symphony and the Auburn Chamber Orchestra (NY). Mr. Johnston was also Music Director of the Pittsburgh Savoyards Opera Company from 1993-1998.

Mr. Johnston has been Music Director for the Allegheny Brass Band of Pittsburgh, where he raised the 27-member chamber ensembles' reputation to a national level by commissioning new works, and taking the ensemble to the People's Republic of China (1997), and Bermuda (1995).

Mr. Johnston has held posts with the Edgewood Symphony (PA), the Pittsburgh Civic Symphony, the Tuesday Musical Club of Pittsburgh, The Chamber Orchestra of Inspiration Point (AK), Carnegie Mellon University (PA), and Langston University (OK). Recent guest appearances have also included conducting the Stamford Symphony Orchestra (CT). An advocate of new music, Mr. Johnston has given world premieres of many new works. In 1996 he conducted a concert of new music at the University of South Carolina. Also in 1996 he was awarded the Judith Kirk-Knerr Award for Programming from the National Association of Music Clubs.

Mr. Johnston has worked with the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras in Pittsburgh, PA, and in 1995 he served as a conductor for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Orchestra. In the summer of 1998 he was conductor for the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra's Orchestra Camp. In 1999 he conducted over 100 high school instrumentalists in a Side-by-Side program with the Auburn Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Johnston has also conducted and coached students at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh), and Langston University (OK).

Mr. Johnston attended Carnegie Mellon University receiving his undergraduate degree and graduate degrees. He has studied conducting with Juan-Pablo Izquierdo, Robert Page, and Eduardo Alonso-Crespo. He has also studied conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and with Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. He studied trombone with Byron McCulloh.

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