Makenzi Johnson is a composer and band director in Lakin, Kansas. This is her tenth year teaching. She graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2011 with degrees in Music, Education, and Music Composition. She graduated in 2020 with an MPS in Music Composition.

Recently, Makenzi won the prestigious 2019 Crystal Apple Award from USD 457 for her work with the Garden City High School and Horace Good Middle School Bands in Garden City, KS. In 2018, she was commissioned to write a piece for Kansas Wesleyan University's middle school honor band in honor of the 100th year of the 19th amendment (women's right to vote) - the piece is titled "Shine On", and it was premiered in October 2019. While an undergraduate at FHSU she was the winner of the annual KMEA Composition Competition in 2011. She was awarded the Phi Beta Mu KBA Future Young Band Director Award in 2009. In 2008, she was commissioned by Fort Hays State University to write a piece for the top wind ensemble, directed by Dr. Jeff Jordan.

Makenzi lives in Garden City, KS with her husband CJ, who is also a composer and band director, and their three dogs Nelhybel, Claire Annette, and Layla.