A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Johanna Wilson has taught strings in elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school programs for the past 42 years in Richland School District One and Lexington School District One.

Before retiring in the spring of 2020, she was the Director of Orchestras at Lexington High School and taught beginning string classes at Pleasant Hill Elementary School. 

Active in local, state, and national teaching and string organizations, she is Past-President of the South Carolina Music Educators Association Orchestra Division and the South Carolina String Teachers Association with NSOA. Her professional affiliations include ASTA, SCASTA, NAfME, SCMEA, and Phil Kappa Lambda. Ms. Wilson was a conductor with the South Carolina Youth Orchestra Program from 1983-1990. For twelve years she was the Master Teacher with Robert Jesselson at the USC String Project. She has served as a judge, adjudicator, and guest conductor for contests, SCMEA Region Orchestras, The Southeastern Honors Orchestras at The University of Tennessee, and other festivals throughout the southeast. 

Her experience as a performer includes twelve years with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and three years with the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Wilson received her BA and Masters of Music Education degrees from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 2005, she was named the SCASTA Conductor of the Year.  She has a daughter, Katherine, who is the orchestra director at Crayton Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina.

Music Education Philosophy

Ms. Wilson believes children should be unfolded rather than molded. In this way, educators develop their potential as performing artists and allow them to discover what they were created to do. As the conductor of the Jr. SPYO, Ms. Wilson considers it important to build relationships with students that foster emotional attachments to the program.

On Working With Community Educators

Ms. Wilson believes the youth orchestra experience adds another dimension to their school orchestra or private lesson experience by providing that much-needed opportunity to grow within a community of learners through music. Working hand in hand with school orchestra programs the SPYO can deliver a dynamic and robust music experience for all young people.

jwilson@SpartanburgPhilharmonic.org
(864) 948-9020