Academic Degrees:

• B.F.A., Minnesota State University, 2009
• M.M., University of Southern California, 2015

Biography:

Pete James Johnson teaches Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos and drumset lessons at CSB/SJU. Pete maintains a busy performing schedule around the United States and the world. He has performed and toured with the Grammy-winning Bob Mintzer Big Band, Ambrose Akinmusire, Alan Pasqua, Darek Oles, Carl Saunders, Otmaro Ruiz, Bob Sheppard, Russ Ferrante, Adam Meckler Orchestra, Javier Santiago and more. You can currently find Pete performing regularly with jazz groups throughout the Twin Cities, the Soul/Rn’B group, Nooky Jones and the alternative-pop group, Maple & Beech. In addition Pete has worked as a session drummer for Capitol Records and other various studios and is on over 50 albums of jazz and pop artists. 

Pete received his Masters of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California in 2015 and Bachelor of Arts in Music at Minnesota State University in 2009.

Pete’s primary drumset instructors were Peter Erskine, Ndugu Chancler, Aaron Serfaty, Bill Platt, and Allen Carter.