 Jeffry
Blake Johnson has performed professionally as a singer,
actor, pianist, harpsichordist, organist and conductor for
over 25 years.His conducting credits feature numerous
premieres as well as extensive work with contemporary and
standard choral repertoire, including Mass of Hope by
Joe Negri, Spirit Water and Song of Songs: Suite
for Women’s Voices by David P. Goldstein, Requiem by W.
A. Mozart, Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, Cantata No. 80: Ein’
feste Burg ist unser Gott by J. S. Bach, and Symphony
No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven (prepared chorus for
performances with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra,
Grant Cooper, conductor, and the West Virginia University
Symphony Orchestra, Mitchell Arnold, conductor).
As a Visiting Assistant
Professor, Johnson formerly served the West Virginia
University as Interim Director of Choral Activities. He was
conductor of the University Choir and Choral Union, and
coordinated other choral ensembles and activities in the
Division of Music. Dr. Johnson taught graduate and
undergraduate courses in conducting, choral methods, choral
literature, and private conducting lessons.
Previous to his work at WVU,
Johnson also taught at the
Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA, and
Boyce College in Louisville, KY. He has served as music
director, pianist, organist, and service leader at numerous
churches, including East Liberty Presbyterian Church in
Pittsburgh, PA, and Central Presbyterian Church in
Louisville, KY.
He received the Doctor of
Musical Arts degree in conducting from West Virginia
University in 2010, the Master of Music degree in vocal
accompanying and harpsichord performance from Boston
University in 1989, and the Bachelor of Science degree in
piano and voice performance from William Jewell College in
1982.
Johnson's stage credits
include a portrayal of the title character in Peter
Schaefer’s Amadeus, which, in addition to acting the
role, featured his performances as conductor, pianist,
harpsichordist, and tenor; operatic performances of Tonio (La
Fille du Regiment), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem
Serail), Count Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia),
and Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance); and extensive
concert accompanying work on piano throughout the United States.
Currently, Johnson
teaches
private voice and piano lessons, and performs in the
Pittsburgh area as a free-lance accompanist. He also runs
his own web design business,
Owl Web
Services, catering to artists and organizations that are
mission- and service-oriented.
Johnson lives on top of a
wooded hill in Wexford, Pennsylvania, with his life-partner
David P. Goldstein and their mostly-dachshund canine Ama.
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