By Ada Kessler

It was a warm June day when I first met John Johnston, McCaskey’s new band director. With a smile on his face, he was eager to begin McCaskey’s 2023 marching band season. 

Johnston was introduced to McCaskey’s band during the last away game of the 2022-2023 football season at Wilson High School. At the time, he worked at Wilson Middle School and Wilson Elementary School and had come to Wilson High School’s senior night, the final home game of the season. 

During halftime, McCaskey’s marching band performed their show “McCaskey Sound Machine” which included songs from Miami Sound Machine. The atmosphere was electric, the audience was interactive, and it made for a great show. Mr. Johnston enjoyed it quite a bit, something he has shared with the band several times during the 2023 marching band season.

Ironically, when Mr. Johnston applied for the job of band director here, he hadn’t realized our band was the same one from the Wilson game. Once he started to research our band, he connected the dots. He ended up playing in the chamber band for a McCaskey Choir Concert and later landed the job. 

Mr. Johnston now teaches Music Technology, Band, and Piano/Guitar Lab with Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Broaddus. He also directs the marching band, concert band, and jazz band. As for instruments, Mr. Johnston plays eight: oboe, saxophone, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, french horn, baritone, and tuba. He says he’s also working on learning how to play the bagpipes. 

When asked about his first marching band season with McCaskey, Mr. Johnston says it was a great one and discussed how hard the band worked. Senior Taina Johnson, who has been in the marching band for four years and was a drum major this year, weighed in on the first season with Mr. Johnston. “From the start of the season he saw our potential and helped us reach it by pushing and encouraging us,” says Taina. 

She discussed how patient and kind Mr. Johnston was while learning alongside his students. He undoubtedly made an effort to connect with the band as he made sure to have every member tell him their name and section. This connection was definitely effective, making everyone feel comfortable when talking to him, especially about problems. 

With the marching band season having been over since late October, the band class has transitioned into focusing on concert band; who had their first performance on December 10th as part of McCaskey’s annual winter concert. They have some upcoming performances at different colleges and the jazz band has performances throughout the spring. Johnston’s thoughtfulness continues in concert band, according to Hasset Tesfaye Desalgn who told me, “Johnston really takes the time to make sure everyone has an understanding of what they are given-marching and concert band.” 

Johnston’s ability to make sure his students are comprehending topics well ties into his favorite part of McCaskey: the relationships. Mr. Johnston describes it as “a network of relationships” with both his colleagues and students. He particularly enjoys the company of the other music department teachers: Mrs. Stephens, Mr. Broaddus, and Mrs. Welch. When discussing the McCaskey concert he played for, he said he believes McCaskey is doing things “no other place is.”

With his short time at McCaskey, Mr. Johnston has already had a positive impact on so many, myself included. He plans on enhancing traditions in the plethora of bands as opposed to getting rid of pre-existing ones. It’s apparent how much he cares about his students and McCaskey as a whole. Hasset Tesfaye Desalgn said it perfectly when she told me, “Johnston really cares about making a great ensemble, so he takes the time to make sure everyone is on the same page. He’s a natural helper and is open to everyone.”