Robert Johnston

Biographical Information:

Born, raised, and educated in New York City, Robert L. Johnston is celebrating his 30th year as Director of String Studies at St. Francis Preparatory School. Mr. Johnston’s orchestras have performed for the Formal Diplomatic Departure Ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI’s 2008 American visit, and more recently, for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Under Mr. Johnston’s leadership, Prep’s Chamber Orchestra has earned numerous gold medal ratings from NYSSMA and have toured Europe 5 times. In December 2024, all three Prep Orchestras presented level-appropriate world premiere pieces with all of the composers in attendance, and two of them even conducting their works. Mr. Johnston is Prep’s Co-Internal Coordinator for their Middle States Association of Colleges and School’s accreditation. It was during his tenure that Prep became the first school ever to earn the Association’s Program of Distinction in Music. Mr. Johnston holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned the Pablo Casals Award for Musical Accomplishment and Human Endeavor. He also holds a master’s degree from Lehman College. In 2008, he earned Prep’s Excellence in Education Award. In 2009, he received a New York State Senate Certificate of Merit in recognition of exceptional service as a teacher. He has received two Canticle Citations for his service to Prep, and in 2014, was installed as Honorary Alum. He is a founding Board Member of Orchestrating Dreams, and previously served on the Board of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Academy. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Advisory Board of Music for All’s Advocacy in Action, is a mentor for the American String Teacher Association, and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Education at Queens College. He is an adjunct professor at Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music.  Mr. Johnston has presented at the 2018 Biennial NAfME-Collegiate/NYSSMA Conference and was selected to present at the 2020 NCEA Convention and Expo.  In 2021, he was a clinician at the 75th Annual Midwest Clinic, has presented a webinar for ASTA, and has been published multiple times in The Bridge (NYASTA). He lives between New York City and the Pocono Mountains with his wife, Michelle.