5 QUESTIONS WITH …: Our Lady of Good Counsel Organist to Retire: She’s Been Music Director 22 Years
By Joel Thurtell, Detroit Free Press
Apr. 15–After 22 years as music director at Plymouth’s Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic church, Michele Johns is retiring along with her longtime administrative assistant, Kay Ray.
Johns is a professor of music in the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance. She has toured Europe 25 times, played organs that were played by J.S. Bach 250 years ago and written a book, “Hymn Improvisation.”
On May 5, Johns will give her farewell concert at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel, which is at the northwest corner of North Territorial and Beck roads in Plymouth Township. Ray will play, too, as will Johns’ daughter, Kristen Johns, professor of French horn at Valdosta State University in Georgia.
QUESTION: You majored in piano and voice at Northwestern University, then raised a family, then did your master’s and doctorate at U-M in organ. Why did you switch to organ?
ANSWER: I loved organ music as a kid in our Baptist church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, but I was more of an athlete, and in those days, you had a hard time doing both. I gradually morphed into both in high school, but as a pianist, thinking I would someday have time to learn organ. I dabbled in it until (husband) Tom and I started our family, and then he babysat while I went to practice.
Q: Why are you retiring?
A: I have many projects which have been shelved for lack of time. Also, I like to travel, and you need blocks of time to do that. Church work is almost a daily responsibility. We have four grandkids who live in the area, and I want to spend time with them. Also, I teach at U-M and will do some concerts and private teaching.
Q: What are you planning to play for your May 5 concert?
A: The concert is entitled “Bold and Brassy,” featuring organ, organ and brass quintet, organ and French horn (with daughter), organ and piano (with Ray). The last half of the concert is all American music, ending with “Variations on ‘America’ ” by Charles Ives, and all the musicians joining in on the finale, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by Sousa. You’ll never hear a rendition like this again.
Q: What kept you coming to Plymouth from Ann Arbor?
A: I can get to Plymouth quicker than I can to the downtown of Ann Arbor. … The real reason is that the people of OLGC are incredibly wonderful and have been so appreciative of my work.
Q: Favorite experience at Our Lady of Good Counsel?
A: The day the pastor called me and offered me the position.
Contact JOEL THURTELL at 248-351-3296 or thurtell@freepress.com.
—–
Copyright (c) 2007, Detroit Free Press
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.