Darrell L. Johnston, retired Maestro and Founder of the San Jose Wind Symphony,
Professor of Music and Department Chairman at San Jose City College, a longtime resident of San Jose, CA, passed peacefully at home in Monterey, CA with his beloved family at his side on May 25, 2021. He was 90.
Born in 1930 to native California parents in Sacramento, CA, he came from humble beginnings. He attributed his fulfillment and success in life to his parents, Avlin and George Leland Johnston, and his immigrant mother and father-in-law, Aniela and
Stanley Slawek, who he adored. He joined the Sacramento Symphony while he was in the 9th grade. Years later, he noticed a beautiful violinist in the first violin section,
Miss Helen Slawek, who he eventually married and lived happily together for 68 years.
Darrell, affectionately known as “DJ” to his students, attended Sacramento
Community College and graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a degree in music in 1952. He earned his Master’s degree in Music from New York’s University of Rochester Eastman School of Music in 1953. He credited his
appreciation for chamber music art form to his mentor and friend, Professor Fredric
Fennell, who later invited him to audition for the newly formed Eastman Wind
Ensemble. After completing his Masters’ degree, Darrell was drafted into the US Army and served for two years from 1953 to 1955.
He began his music teaching career in Woodland, CA and was recruited by San Jose City College (SJCC) as Professor of Music and Director of Bands in an inspired
teaching career from 1958-1993. He pursued additional graduate studies work at
Stanford University’s Department of Music during the early 1960s.
During his first year at SJCC in 1958, he founded the San Jose Symphonic Band, now known as the San Jose Wind Symphony, a renowned adult ensemble which competed and performed nationally and internationally. He conducted the Symphony for 44 years until he stepped down from the podium in 2004 as conductor emeritus. A tribute to his legacy, the San Jose Wind Symphony continues to thrive and perform today. At San Jose City College, he was most proud of the highly successful chamber music program he developed, with up to 100 students performing per week. During his career, Darrell was an active judge and clinician with the World of Music Festivals band competitions and a clinician at chamber music festivals at California’s Humboldt and Chico State Universities and the University of Oregon at Medford. His jazz ensemble performed for His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden at the Swedish consulate residence in San Francisco during his US visit in 1976 (as the King was known to be particularly fond of jazz).
Darrell attributed the greatest gift he received as Professor of Music and Maestro to be his rapport with hundreds of students and musical colleagues; many remained dear friends during his lifetime. His passion for education and music inspired two
generations of musicians throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
Outside of music, Darrell was an accomplished hiker, snow skier, ping pong, and
tennis player. He loved riding trail bikes and fishing at his forest cabin in the Lake Tahoe Sierra’s. He was a proud Eagle Scout from Troop 1, Sacramento. He enjoyed
using his hands to build fences, paint, and other projects at Helen’s family home in the Sacramento Delta. He was proud of and treasured his orange, apricot, peach, plum, and persimmon trees. His family was his priority and never missed a baseball game, tennis match, ballet, or musical performance by his grandchildren.
He is survived by Helen, his beloved wife of 68 years, his two children Scott Johnston (Cindy), Annette Johnston Welton (Patrick), and his six grandchildren, Christopher Johnston (Chelsea), Alexander Welton (Alexa), Mikaela Welton, Holly Johnston, Alison Johnston, Brooke Johnston, and his sister Laurnell (Polster) Lee and her children.
Darrell proudly completed Stanford Cardiology’s successful clinical trial for cardiac
amyloidosis in 2019. A private family memorial service will be held in the future.
Memorial donations may be directed in Darrell’s honor to the San Jose Wind
Symphony (SJWS.org), University of Rochester Eastman School of Music, or Stanford University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine c/o Dr. Ronald Witteles.
For more information: cfcssacramento.org/obituaries.
