After a one-year hiatus, Dr. Michael Johnson is returning to Creston, this time to guide Southwestern Community College’s music programs at the institution’s School for Music Vocations (SMV).
Johnson grew up in Denver, Colorado, surrounded by a musical family. He began playing piano at age six, wrote his first song at age 12, performed as a vocalist in church throughout childhood, and picked up the guitar at age 13. As an adult, he has gained notoriety in bands in Denver; Miami; St. Louis; and currently Boston.
Dr. John Franklin, Southwestern vice president of instruction, said due to Johnson’s history with the college, the program will not miss a step during this transition with faculty.
“Southwestern is excited to have Dr. Michael Johnson rejoin our faculty to lead the School for Music Vocations,” stated Franklin. “His phenomenal background as a performer, studio engineer, and veteran instructor will bring real-world industry expertise directly to our students.”
Johnson said he has followed the SMV since its infancy, “watching legends like Phil Mattson and Dr. Jeremy Fox build it into a nationally renowned institution.” He taught at Southwestern during the 2024-25 academic year, and brings with him 10 years of experience from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, seven years at Greenville University, and 18 years at Berklee College of Music.
In addition to teaching, Johnson has more than 35 years of professional experience as a performer, songwriter, arranger, and producer/engineer.
Johnson said, “Across all of these roles, I've had to stay ahead of the stylistic, technological, and economic shifts reshaping the music industry, and I've built hundreds of contacts across the professional music world and jazz/popular music higher education — colleagues and former students alike.”
To learn more about Southwestern’s music degree options, please visit www.swcciowa.edu.
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