"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art."

The North Monterey County High School Marching Band led by Mr. D.L. Johnson, is an international award winning band. They just recently completed their third successful set of overseas performances with their successful exchange program called, "Peace Through Music." It is the first high school band ever to be invited by the Chinese government to tour and co-perform with resident Chinese students.They toured China in 2001, 2005, 2009 and are planning to return in 2012. They have also performed in Italy and in the Rose parade.

In addition to this, this band was the only high school band to represent California in both the 1997 Presidential Inauguration Parade and the national opening of the World War II memorial parade.

The band has recently completed tours in Colorado,Washington D.C., Italy and China. Students are now fundraising to return to China in 2012.

Feel free to contact Mr. DL Johnson for more information at dlj@salinas.net