John Porter

John Porter, native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a commercial pilot, flight instructor, orchestral conductor, double bassist, and aircraft engineer.

In addition to teaching flight courses and ground classes to student, private, instrument, and commercial pilots at Addison Executive Airport, he serves as the North Texas Symphony's Artistic and Executive Director.

At just 21 years old, Porter is already known for his rehearsal organization and technique, hyper-musical interpretations, all-inclusive programming, advocacy for contemporary composers, and passion for others.

From 2021-2024, while achieving a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, Porter served as the first music director of the LeTourneau University Community Orchestra, an ensemble composed of students, professors, and East Texas community members. Under his leadership and the help of many other people, the LeTourneau Community Orchestra grew from a modest string trio to a full-blown symphonic ensemble with over 100 members and its own internal 40-person chorus, and was the largest performing ensemble in the university's 78 year history.

Additionally, Porter has served on the conducting staff at the East Texas Youth Orchestra for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, teaches bass lessons to students of all ages around the DFW area, and holds double bass contracts for numerous professional symphony orchestras and ensembles within the surrounding areas.

In his almost non-existent spare time, you can find John playing baseball with his friends, with his father under the hood of their 1963 VW Beetle, working to show his passion for aviation education and reform, and constantly bettering himself at the art of music.

(No, he does not play the Sousaphone. He only wishes.)