b.
1941
|
John
Ferguson
John
Ferguson’s name is immediately associated with hymnody
and the words “hymn festival.” Every year he is
invited to design and lead such events, both in local congregations
and at gatherings of organists, choral conductors, and church
musicians. In 1995 he designed and led a hymn festival in the
Washington National Cathedral for the American Choral Directors
Association national convention and in 1998 did the same at
the national convention of the American Guild of Organists
in Denver. He has presented such events abroad as well as in
Asia (July, 1996 in Seoul, Korea) and Europe (August, 1997)
in the National Cathedral of Norway, Nidaros Dom, Trondheim,
as a part of the celebration of the millennium of the birth
of St. Olaf. Although he is a Lutheran, his festivals are ecumenical
experiences drawing upon the greatest treasures of Christian
song from many centuries, traditions, and styles.
Ferguson
is the Elliot and Klara Stockdal Johnson Professor of Organ
and Church Music and Cantor to the Student Congregation at
St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. St. Olaf’s
great choral tradition began with F. Meluis Christiansen and
has influenced many generations of fine church musicians. Christiansen’s
lifelong interest in hymns is evidenced by the many hymns included
in his choral compositions as well as his contributions to
hymnals of his day. Ferguson’s creative hymn arrangements
continue this tradition with a renewed emphasis upon congregational
participation.
A
native of Cleveland, Ferguson’s degrees are from Oberlin
College, Kent State University and the Eastman School of Music.
He is respected as a fine teacher and performer and his unique
skill as improviser and leader of congregational song has won
national acclaim. When someone attends one of his festivals,
the experience is never dull. With Ferguson at the organ and
the creative use of instrumental and choral sound, the assembly
is enveloped and whisked away into an experience of song that
will never again happen in just that way.
Choral
music by John Ferguson
Organ
music by John Ferguson
|
