Don Johnson Memorial Award
Don Johnson spent his entire life in the pursuit of excellence. Whether it was in music or golf, whatever he put his mind to he did with the utmost precision. He was often heard saying – If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well or correct.
Don started playing the cornet at a very young age in the Salvation Army. He quickly discovered his talent for the instrument and pursued his goal towards excellence as he diligently practiced. He saw many successes early on which spurred him to further discover the intricacies of brass performance. Don was an eager student and often sought the advice of teachers throughout Canada. As he progressed into his teens Don made new discoveries and switched to trumpet to open more possibilities for performance. While Don was still in his late teens he became a member of the Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra often serving as a featured soloist at Massey Hall. Don continued to study and expand his sights into the U.S. seeking the greatest teachers and performers as he also joined the ranks of the Toronto Symphony and Canadian Opera Company. This study continued throughout his life as he remained and avid student of the trumpet and brass performance – always pursuing excellence. His many performances and contacts throughout North America led him to the famed Boston Tanglewood program to study with Georges Mager.
Don soon opened his own teaching studio in Toronto while juggling a hectic performance life. He divided his time between playing in dance bands, live radio and television shows as well as studio recording sessions. Don became a regular on The Holiday Ranch show performing on trumpet and often featured singing and whistling on live television. As his teaching studio grew so his performance schedule did, Don became the music director for the showroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Toronto. By this time Don’s students were starting to fill the ranks of the orchestras and studios around Toronto. When Humber College opened in Toronto, Don became head of the brass department and later the head of the music performance program. Don’s students continued to flourish and his reputation as a master brass teacher drew countless brass students from around the world to study with him at the college. Today Don’s students continue to occupy top positions in the music scene in Canada.
Don’s love and admiration for his students are the hallmarks of his lifelong pursuit of excellence. His primary goal was to nurture and support his students throughout their growth as musicians and this drove him to always learn as much as he could so he could impart his knowledge not only to his students but also to his own continual development as a brass performer and educator. He had a unique relationship with each student; they feared letting him down and loved him for his devotion to making them better players. Don leaves behind a legacy of trumpet playing and is missed by not only the brass community in North America but by countless musicians, colleagues, and friends who had the pleasure of knowing him.
The Don Johnson Memorial Award for Brass Excellence recognizes a brass student who displays the drive and ambition to excel and succeed in brass performance.
