Stephen K. Johnston

Dr. Johnston was a part of some of the very best years of my life. I graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory in 1993. I met him the Summer of my Junior year in high school. He taught my first Music History Class. I was part of a small Advanced Admissions class, along with Jena Root and Tim Baurle. We had a boy in our class, named Hary Hindmarsh, a percussionist of course, who gave Dr. Johnston a challenging time. It was on one of these occasions that we were rewarded by a story of Dr. Johnston´s red pen that included the explanation of how much he enjoyed awarding his students with their grades. Completing the story with how much he enjoyed a glass of wine, while penning in red, the grades of D or F!! I was honored to have him serve on every flute jury I played during my time studying under Dr. Francis Averitt. My favorite memory of Dr. Johnston was a fast ride down to George Mason for a gig that Teresa Gordon and I completely forgot we had! Mr. Black caught Teresa and me on our way to Music History one afternoon informing us that we were to: get our instruments, get our duet music, get into our black, and get to Dr. Johnston´s office as fast as we could. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable moment for me getting a ride with Dr. Johnston and hearing about him taking Bugels to a Thanksgiving Dinner with Dr. Averitt and announcing that he had brought turkey beaks! Dr. Johnston also was an unforgettable conductor. I am grateful, honored and blessed by DJ´s presence in my life during my time at Shenandoah. My music has opened up a larger world for me. A world I never could have known without Shenandoah. Dr. Johnston was a faithful, fine and stalwart gate keeper of my future as a musician. With sincere condolences,
Carma Jones Denney.

My most sincere condolences to Loretta, Libby and her family. I always enjoyed visiting with you on your visits to Evansville. Steve was the only other liberal in my family and could hold his own during discussions since he was always more we'll read than the rest of us. I am so glad we got to visit when we were on our eastcoast trip. He was very accomplished in his field which makes me very proud. He will be missed. Love, Sus