ABOUT GINNY
Virginia (Ginny) Johnston is a professional musician who embraces a wide variety of styles and activities. Trained as a classical clarinetist and composer, Ginny received degrees from Syracuse University and Boston University and then returned to her home state of New Jersey to pursue a music career.
She recently completed a 13-year tenure as Executive Director of The Discovery Orchestra, a music education organization whose mission is to teach listening skills to help people connect with classical music. She is currently Finance Director of the organization. The Orchestra focuses on digital programs, with six award-winning public television shows, radio and podcast programs, and other video and educator resources to its credit. Ginny is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, vocalist and drummer. As a conductor, she leads the Triad Vocal Ensemble community choir and helps produce annual benefit concerts to raise funds for three NJ organizations that support those impacted by HIV/AIDS. Ginny was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Garden State Symphonic Band in January 2023, and serves as Associate Conductor for the Maplewood Concert Band in Maplewood NJ.
Clarinetist, Composer, Conductor
Ginny has been an active free-lance clarinetist (and saxophone doubler) in the greater NJ area for over 25 years. She is a long-time member of the Garden State Symphonic Band and often performs with the Encore Orchestra of NJ , as well as in pits for musicals and operas. As a composer, she has written instrumental and choral music for various sized ensembles. Ethos Publications specializes in music written for clarinet and saxophone, and two of her works are included in their catalog. Other pieces can be found on JW Pepper.
Ginny studied choral conducting through Westminster Choir College’s Continuing Education program and received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University. She has been the conductor of the Triad Vocal Ensemble adult mixed choir since 1995. The choir performs each spring as part of the Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concert series, for which she also serves as the event chair. Over $200,000 has been raised for this music ministry over the years.
Folk-Rock Musician and More
Ginny started writing songs as a young girl and then began co-writing with friends in high school. Over the years she has continued to write on her own and in collaboration with lyricist/poet Gretchen Hill and others. After graduate school, Ginny formed a folk-rock band, Mosaic, with several colleagues. She has performed solo and with Mosaic in various settings over the years including coffeehouses, outdoor festivals, First Night Celebrations, and private events. The band often expands its repertoire to include standards and blues when guest pianist Dan Crisci (Ginny’s husband) joins. The band has released two albums of her original music to date.
As a teen, Ginny studied the drums and then continued to perform in the percussion ensemble when a student at Syracuse University. Since then, she has performed as a drummer in numerous community theater productions and more recently with husband Dan Crisci as part of a jazz duo highlighting his original music.
Other pursuits include performing improv comedy and on stage in community theater productions. She has studied improv with Lulu French and at The Magnet Theater, and taken acting classes at The Barrow Group and the Deborah Kym Studio. Ginny has been part of a local, Maplewood NJ-based improv troupe “Whatever, Dad” since 2018. Ginny is excited to be back on the acting path to see where this passion will lead.