Orin Johnson has been Coordinator of Music and Liturgy at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows since 1998. There he is the principal keyboardist and the choir director; he also directs and trains the Shrine’s cantors and instrumentalists. In addition, he is the principal accompanist at Congregation Shaare Emeth in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

Originally from Tyler, Minnesota, Orin received his B.A. in Music and Folklore & Mythology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and his M.A. in Music Performance (Choral Conducting emphasis) from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. During his studies, he sang with the Harvard Glee Club, was musical director of the Dunster House Opera Society (The Marriage of Figaro), directed undergraduate ensembles at Radford University, and studied conducting and voice with Jameson Marvin, David Otis Castonguay, and David Ripley.

In addition to his activities with the Chamber Chorus, Orin also has sung with the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus and has musically directed several theatrical productions. He is active at other churches in the area as a musician, and also sings and plays at various youth religious events in the area and around the country. He resides in St. Louis with his wife Erin.

For more about Orin, see his home page at www.orinjohnson.com.