Virginia Beach, Va. - His mom was the readiness NCO for the 101st Army Band and his stepdad was the first sergeant. Now, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Johnson is the Army Band Reserve Components' Junior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
Johnson was one of six Soldiers chosen from more than 4,700 band members in the active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard to receive the honor. Following a musical performance rating and overall Soldier assessment, awards were granted to the Senior NCO, Junior NCO and Soldier of the year for Active Component and Reserve Components at the Army Band Leader Training Conference in Virginia Beach, Va., April 22.
Johnson enlisted in the Colorado Army National Guard while still in high school and attended basic and advanced individual training soon after graduating. He's been in the band for over 20 years now.
Johnson was exposed to the 101st as a young boy. "I would go to drill weekends with them rather than stay home and – because I was a nerd – I'd show up in my Boy Scout uniform just to fit in."
"My mom and stepdad actually met in the band," Johnson said. "It's not like they pushed me into it but I always knew I would join."
Johnson holds multiple roles in the band. "I'm the clarinet section leader and I also do a lot of conducting," Johnson said. He also serves as the conductor of the Centennial Wind Ensemble and branch chief of operations and plans. Johnson holds a doctorate in instrumental conducting from the University of Northern Colorado and a master's in wind and orchestral conducting from UNC. His undergraduate work in clarinet performance was at Metropolitan State College of Denver from which he graduated summa cum laude.
If that wasn't enough music in one Soldier's life, he also works as a professor at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, near his home.
"I know there are a lot of Soldiers who do something different from their civilian careers on drill weekends and vice versa, but for me, I do music," Johnson said. "That's who I am. My father was a clarinetist, he taught college music; my mom's a percussionist, my stepdad's a percussionist, my sister a flute player. Music is what I do."
Even if that means a four-hour commute from Nebraska. Even if it makes taking on multiple roles in the organization. Even if it means continuing rehearsals and practice into late hours of the night. That's who Johnson is.
"I've got the Colorado National Guard in my blood," Johnson said. "It's a true joy for me. I can never have enough music."