Johanna Anderson has been principal oboist of the Kettle Moraine Symphony since the 2016-17 season. Outside of the orchestra, she is the Associate Director of Instrumental Music and Music Department Recruiter at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) in Mequon. At CUW, she directs the University Band and the Falcon Pep Band and Drumline, and she also performs with the university’s other instrumental ensembles: Symphonic Wind Ensemble (oboe, English horn), Jazz Ensemble (trumpet), and Chamber Orchestra (viola). 

Johanna also chairs the CUW music scholarship committee and works with the admissions department to recruit students to the music program. She is often the first point of contact for prospective music students and families, and she represents the department at visit days and campus events throughout the year. One of her favorite parts of her current job is being able to visit local public and Lutheran high schools to meet and work with directors and student musicians.

Johanna graduated from CUW in 2013 with a B.A. in K-12 Music Education and K-12 Spanish Education, and she received her M.M. in Music Education from Boston University in 2017. Prior to teaching at CUW, she taught band and orchestra at Perry A. Tipler Middle School in Oshkosh, WI, and she still has a passion for teaching and working with middle school and high school musicians.

When did you start playing?
I started playing alto saxophone in sixth grade band, and I continued with that as my primary instrument throughout college.  At the beginning of my junior year of college, I added oboe as a secondary instrument, and I fell in love with it.  Once I graduated, I decided to make oboe my official primary instrument, and I have been focusing on oboe and English horn ever since. I love the repertoire for oboe, and I enjoy being able to play with both band and orchestra. There is something unique and special about the tone and timbre of the oboe that allows me to express emotion so accurately through the music.

My interest in learning other instruments was sparked when I started college. As a Music Education major, I took each of the techniques courses that introduced me to all of the instruments in the string, percussion, woodwind, and brass families. I especially enjoyed playing the viola in Prof. Mike Betz’s string techniques course my freshman year, and I have had the opportunity to play viola with the CUW String Ensemble for many years. 

Since my high school and college band directors were trumpet players, I decided to continue to practice trumpet.  This especially helped me when I taught middle school band because I was able to direct with one hand and play the trumpet along with them with the other hand. Ever since coming back to CUW, I have played trumpet with our Jazz Ensemble and with my Pep Band.

Who was your most influential music teacher?
All of my music teachers and directors have influenced my musical journey in significant ways. I grew up in Baraboo, Wisconsin, which is an incredibly musical town, which meant that there were a lot of opportunities to participate in musical activities in and outside of school. My mom, who is also a musician, instilled in me a love of music early on and throughout my childhood.

Mr. Rick Meiller, my middle school band director, encouraged me to improve on my instrument and to stay in band. Mr. Greg Lang, my high school band director, inspired me to become a music educator and band director, and to this day, there is still evidence of his teaching and personality in my own teaching.

In college at Concordia, Dr. Albert Abena, my saxophone teacher, had a tremendous impact on my musical journey and taught me countless lessons about music and about life. Dr. Louis Menchaca was my mentor and band and orchestra director at CUW, and he helped shape who I am as a person, student, music educator, conductor, and musician. Being able to return to CUW and work alongside Dr. Menchaca as his colleague has been one of the most rewarding things in my life.

Pauline Bemis (shown here with Johanna), former second oboist of KMS, also taught me a lot about playing the oboe, and I will always cherish my time playing alongside her in the orchestra.

What advice would you give to young musicians?