On April 25, the Mason City School Board unanimously approved Superintendent Gail Kist-Kline’s recommendation to hire Johnnie B. Green as the new Mason High School Marching Band Director.
“Johnnie B. Green is the right choice to lead Mason’s renowned Marching Band program. He has a wealth of experience in the marching band world, and his excitement for the pageantry of marching band is only matched by his dedication to students. He is warm, caring, and enthusiastic, and we could tell immediately that Mr. Green is someone who will truly care about our kids and make them the center of every decision,” said Dave Hyatt, MHS Principal.
During the hiring process, the district stepped back and re-evaluated the scope of the program and shifted the search focus to find just the right fit for marching band and our concert bands. “We believe we have a terrific marching band fit with Mr. Green, and we will be announcing additional leadership for the high school concert band program to complement the existing educator team in the future,” said Kist-Kline. Details on the Director of Concert Bands position are still being finalized.
Green is thrilled to join the Mason Band family. “The tradition of excellence here seeps through everything that Mason does. This program has incredible momentum, and I’m really excited to chart the next chapter together. I can’t wait to meet all the members of the Mason Band family. I have always believed that we are teaching life skills through music - team building and leadership for all kids, because they will all be leaders in the world.”
Green currently serves as Associate Director of Bands, and Color Guard Director at Lehman High School in Kyle, TX. As part of the Lehman team, Green experienced immediate success earning Superior ratings in both concert and marching band, and establishing the Lehman Color Guard as a Texas Color Guard Circuit State Championship Medalist in 2011, Scholastic Regional A State Champion in 2012, Scholastic A State Finalist in 2014, and WGI Regional Finalist in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and is also the Host of the WGI Austin Regional. Most recently, the Lehman Varsity Winter Guard is the 2017 National A State Championship Bronze Medalist, and the Lehman JV Winter Guard is the 2017 Novice Class Bronze Medalist. In 2012 Green received the UIL Sponsor of Excellence award from Hays CISD, and was nominated for the State UIL Award. Green is also a Quarterfinalist for the 2015 Grammy in Music Education award. Under Green’s direction, the Lehman Wind Symphony was recently named a “Commended Winner” in the Foundation for Music Education’s Citation of Excellence contest for non-varsity bands.
Green grew up with a strong background in music and performance, studying voice and trumpet at an early age. While in high school, he performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the National Youth Performance Debut Series, and performed as principal trumpet in the first Bands of America concert band in 1990 under the direction of William D. Revelli and Tim Salzman. Green studied trumpet with Dr. Amy Gilreath at Illinois State University, and with Dr. Jonathan Gresham and Drew Cremisio at Northern Kentucky University. While at NKU, he was selected as a finalist in the Corbett Concerto Competition, and performed as a member of the NKU Faculty Brass Quintet. From 1991-1994, Green was a lead soprano for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL winning the 1992 Drum Corps International World Championship , and Individual & Ensemble World Championships in 1992 and 1994.
Green has continued to stay active as a performer, playing with the San Antonio Wind Symphony, Heart of Texas Concert Band, and was a featured soloist with the Cavalier’s 60th Anniversary Corps.
He and his wife Jessica, and their daughters Olivia and Ella, are looking forward to moving to Ohio.