Donald Johanos

[2] After his graduation from Eastman, Johanos played violin for five years in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, where he received coaching in conducting from the music director, Erich Leinsdorf.

In 1958, Johanos won the International Conductors Competition run by the Netherlands Radio Union.

[3] In 1962, Johanos became the music director and principal conductor with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Johanos received an award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1991 for "adventuresome programming of contemporary music".

The 1993–94 season, which would have been Johanos's last with the Honolulu orchestra, was cancelled due to a labor dispute.