Bio
Wendy Johnston is an organist who discovered her instrument as she was finishing her final year at Brigham Young University for a Bachelor of General Studies. Needing an elective, she enrolled in private organ instruction and was immediately hooked. In reality, she thinks that the organ and the musician found each other. Wendy went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Shenandoah Conservatory, summa cum laude, holding the Conservatory scholarship. She has performed in master classes for Nathan Laube, Martin Jean, and Earl Wild. Organ teachers include John Walker, Wayne Wold, Thomas Mitts, and Dale Krider. Piano teachers include Ieva Jokubaviciute, Brian Ganz and Irene Peery-Fox.
Recent area performances have been in concert with the Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County as their pianist and organist; performing Fauré's Requiem with the chamber vocal group Lux and the St. Joseph Schola at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cockeysville. Solo recitals include performances at First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, Maryland; Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia; and Augustana Lutheran Church in Washington DC.
Wendy has a life-long love of teaching. She is a certified Suzuki Piano Instructor; having worked as an apprentice Suzuki piano teacher at the Levine School in Washington DC. She has taught hundreds of students from her private piano studio in Howard County, Maryland. She finds joy in helping each student feel successful and happy in pursuing their goals.
Volunteer work is important to Wendy, and she has served on the boards of the Greater Laurel Music Teachers Association, the Greater Columbia Music Teachers Association, and worked on projects for Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House.
Wendy is presently at Peabody Conservatory, pursuing a Master of Music in organ performance, holding a scholarship for Artistic Excellence. She studies with John Walker.