issue feature

by Carla Jean Whitley

When Jimmy Carter appeared on television on election night 1976 to accept his role as the next president of the United States, a high school senior from Americus, Ga., stood just behind him. The senior was at campaign headquarters in Plains, Ga., that night to play piano as the crowd sang “God Bless America,” and also led Carter’s inauguration parade as drum major of the high school band. That young man was Dr. Terre Johnson, a Birmingham minister of music whose musical pursuits have guided him through an already-storied career.

Johnson, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church’s music minister of four years, can’t recall a time when he wasn’t interested in music. That passion has carried him from picking out tunes on his kindergarten classroom’s piano to Carter’s election night to guest conducting at music festivals worldwide. Before coming to Vestavia Hills Baptist, Johnson earned three degrees in choral music education, taught in public schools and colleges and served as conductor- in-residence for Midamerica Productions in New York, for which he is still an associate conductor.

Even now his schedule remains packed. The Vestavia Hills Baptist choir is comprised of the voices of 60 talented singers, many with multiple music degrees. “It’s a real challenge to choose the right music, prepare it adequately, to make it relevant to the church’s larger experience and not just treat the church as if it exists for a musical performance,” Johnson explains, “and be responsive to the needs of the congregation while you’re trying to have a long-term view of how to build the choir and how to challenge them to greater accomplishment, musically, which is sort of their spiritual act.”

During time off from the church, Johnson travels the country 15 to 20 times annually for Midamerica, rehearsing choirs that are on their way to Carnegie Hall. Many of those groups are traveling to New York to unite with other choirs under the direction of famed British conductor John Rutter. After learning music during their own rehearsals, Johnson ensures that they are up to Rutter’s exacting standards and, if they are not, guides them so that they will be by departure. “It’s very challenging and really, really motivating to me to get to do that,” Johnson says.

His work also carries him onto the international stage. Johnson is assistant artistic director of the International Haydn Festival 2009 in Vienna, Austria, which will commemorate the 200th anniversary of classical composer Franz Josef Haydn’s death. Johnson will conduct Mozart’s requiem, which was performed at Haydn’s funeral. He’ll be part of another notable event in 2010, as he conducts at a multi-concert festival, part of the World Expo in Shanghai.

Here at home , Johnson also conducts the newly-formed Birmingham Chamber Chorus. He conceived the idea with long-time friend Mark Ridings, music director at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The 22 singers—among the best in the city, Johnson says—learn their music on their own time before meeting four times to perfect each performance.

The unorthodox rehearsal schedule and intentional age and ethnic diversity set the group apart.

Three college students and two high school students join adult singers for professional experience. “He really is one of these people that, through music, is bringing a lot of people together with really high standards,” says Marjorie Davis, a chamber chorus member who has performed in several Johnsonconducted choirs. Davis minored in music at Boston College, where she worked with one of the Catholic Church’s top modern liturgical composers.

“He was great,” she offers by way of comparison. “Terre is phenomenal.”
January Birmingham, Alabama

  

 
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