ObituaryKeith Johnson
Keith Johnson (’63), 77, Professor Emeritus of trumpet and renowned trumpeter, died
July 31 in Denton. He taught at UNT from 1986 to 2014 and received the Distinguished
Teaching Professor Award in 2011. He performed with the Dallas Opera, the Fort Worth
Symphony and more orchestras across the U.S. Keith also wrote two books, The Art of
Trumpet Playing and Brass Performance and Pedagogy, and published several method books.
In 2012, he won the Award of Merit from the International Trumpet Guild for his service
to the trumpet profession, and in 2013, was given a Distinguished Service Award by
the New Hampshire Music Festival for his 50 years as co-principal trumpet. He earned
his master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and before
joining UNT, taught at the University of Northern Iowa. He and his wife Cecile contributed
to UNT’s College of Music and were members of the President’s Council. Donations can
be made to The Keith Johnson Trumpet Graduate Scholarship Endowment. A tribute concert will take place at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19, 2021, in the UNT Music Building's Recital Hall.