Donald Johanos

Donald Johanos is best remembered as the conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra during most of the 1960s. He made several notable recordings with the DSO and at one time was viewed as one of the rising stars among American conductors. Though Johanos conducted a broad range of works, he was most closely associated with both American and contemporary music, in particular the works of Ives, Copland, Schuller, and Dan Welcher. Yet he was also praised for his Beethoven, Dvorák, Wagner, Rachmaninov, Bizet, and other mainstream composers. Although from about 1980, Johanos seemed to slowly fade from the public eye, he managed to maintain a faithful following, even into the new century, as many of his two dozen or so recordings remain available on such labels as Naxos and Vox. Donald Johanos was born in Cedar Rapids, IA, on February 10, 1928. He studied violin as a child and had advanced studies in violin and conducting at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. While he was still a student there, Johanos performed in the Rochester Symphony as a violinist under Erich Leinsdorf, who gave him conducting lessons. In 1953 Johanos was appointed conductor of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra. While holding the post he studied privately, mostly abroad, with Szell, Karajan, Beecham, Klemperer, Walter, and van Beinum. In 1955 Johanos accepted music directorship of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. 1957 was a pivotal year: he captured first prize at the Netherlands Radio International Conducting Competition and then accepted the post of associate conductor in Dallas. Following Solti's departure in 1962 Johanos became music director. During his eight-year tenure Johanos made notable recordings with the DSO, including a Vox LP of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances. He also appointed Paul Freeman associate conductor, one of the first blacks to serve in such a post in the southern U.S., prompting threats to both conductors. Johanos left Dallas in 1970 to become associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of its chamber orchestra. From 1979-1994 he served as music director of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. While there he improved orchestral standards and performed much new music by American composers. His 1994 recording of Haleakala (How Maui Snared the Sun) and other works by Dan Welcher, on the Marco Polo label, drew broad critical acclaim. Johanos retired from his Honolulu post at the end of the strike-ridden 1993-1994 season. He died in Naples, FL, on May 29, 2007.