Emmy Award-Winning Composer Joins Hancock Music Faculty
JUNE 4, 2020 -- Allan Hancock College is proud to welcome Emmy award-winning television and film composer Carl Johnson to its music department faculty.
As a composer, Johnson has worked in the music industry for more than 30 years across a variety of genres, including film, television, theme parks and stage. He worked on numerous projects for television and movie studios such as Warner Brothers, Disney, DreamWorks, and MGM.
“We are thrilled to have a talented and knowledgeable television and film composer like Carl join our faculty,” said Hancock Assistant Music Professor Nichole Dechaine. “We are excited that our students will be able to study with such a highly accomplished expert in the fields of music composition and business. They will have the opportunity to work with someone who is very active in the Hollywood and television music scene, and who has had his own successful music business.”
Johnson discovered his love for music when he began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. He went on to play trombone in high school ensemble. After deciding to pursue music professionally, Johnson graduated with honors from the University of Kansas and USC's film-scoring program and immediately embarked on a successful career in Hollywood.
As a composer, Johnson showed his versatility working on films such as “Piglet’s Big Movie,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II,” “Aladdin and the King of Thieves” and “The Return of Jafar,” while his television work ranges from to “Gargoyles” and “Looney Tunes Cartoons” to “Invasion America,” which earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Composition for a Series. He also orchestrated on a variety of top-grossing films including “Wall-e,” “Skyfall,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Windtalkers,” and “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” He has also written special projects for live theatre and themed attractions around the globe.
Johnson is excited to share his skills and experience with students at Hancock and will teach music business during the summer term.
“I had some fantastic teachers and mentors when I was starting out. Those people were incredibly influential, and I remain profoundly grateful for their help,” said Johnson. “I hope teaching will allow me to return some of that kindness and pass on some of that knowledge. I hope my students will come away with a sense of how the entertainment industry works and what some of the many career paths in it are.”
Hancock’s associate in arts music degree program fulfills requirements for students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university and seeking employment in the areas of music teaching, music performance and other related fields in the music industry.
Registration for summer and fall classes at Hancock is ongoing. Summer classes start June 15, and fall classes start Aug. 17. Summer and fall classes will be offered remotely. Go to www.hancockcollege.edu/summerfall to register for classes.
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Photo Caption: Emmy award-winning film and television composer Carl Johnson joins AHC music faculty.
