Dr. Neil Harmon

    Neil Harmon teaches organ at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Utah Valley University. Prior to his university teaching in Utah, he worked as full-time Director of Music and Organist at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware for 19 years. Dr. Harmon earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Eastman School of Music. He enjoys a career as teacher, performer, accompanist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is known throughout the country for his creative organ arrangements and for his choral and handbell compositions.

    Dr. Jason Gunnell

    Dr. Jason M. Gunnell is the Associate Director of Music and Organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio, where he assists in leading a large and dynamic parish music program. A native of Idaho, Jason received his Bachelor of Musical Arts at Brigham Young University-Idaho, studying with Daniel Kerr, James Drake, and Darwin Wolford. He received his Master of Music in Organ Performance and Church Music from the University of Kansas, studying with James Higdon. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, studying with Roberta Gary and Michael Unger. Dr. Gunnell was the winner of the 2011 Strader Organ Competition held in Cincinnati, Ohio and was a finalist for the post of Tabernacle Organist of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2017.

    Dr. Gunnell has extensive experience as a church musician, choir conductor, and organist, serving in churches in Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio. Dr. Gunnell actively serves in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many music capacities and has served in the Church of Jesus Christ in numerous music capacities for over 30 years. Dr. Gunnell has performed in many venues throughout the United States and Hungary, and has taught private organ lessons and courses in music theory and history at the collegiate level. Dr. Gunnell actively recitals in the famed Mormon Tabernacle and the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah as a Guest Organist at Temple Square, playing on the world famous V/206 Aeolian Skinner Organ in the Mormon Tabernacle and the V/130 Schoenstein Organ in the Conference Center. He is also a member of the Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas, performing major organ works and cantatas of J. S. Bach. Dr. Gunnell currently serves as an officer in the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

    Dr. Gunnell resides in Cincinnati with his family. He is happily married to his wife, Kate. They are the parents of seven boys, Grant, Mitch, Brigham, William, Clark, Russell, and Hyrum, and a daughter, Ava.

    Wendy Johnston

    Wendy Johnston is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Catonsville Presbyterian Church; playing for weekly services, accompanying the Chancel Choir, and directing the Children’s Choir.

    She has a Master of Music in organ performance from the Peabody Institute, studying with John Walker, and a Bachelor of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory, studying with J. Thomas Mitts and Wayne L. Wold. During her graduate studies at Peabody, Ms. Johnston was named Organ Scholar at the historic Zion Lutheran Church in Baltimore, where she played for English and German services weekly. She has been coached in master class by Martin Jean (Yale Institute), Nathan Laube (the Eastman School), Jean-Baptiste Robin (Versailles, France) and Alan Morrison (Curtis Institute). During post-graduate study abroad, Wendy Johnston had additional coaching with Jean-Baptiste Robin, at the Versailles Royal Chapel in Versailles, France.

    As a recitalist, Wendy Johnston will perform this July at the Baltimore National Convention of the Organ Historical Society, playing one of Baltimore’s historic organs. Past performances include solo recitals throughout the Washington D.C. and Baltimore area, a performance as organist and accompanist with the Masterwork Chorale of Carroll County, and as guest organist for an Epiphany “Lessons and Carols” at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church, Baltimore.

    She currently serves on the National AGO Committee for Career Development and Support, the Executive Board of the Baltimore chapter of the AGO, and on the Executive Board of the Maryland State Music Teachers Association as Vice-President of Publications.

    Passionate about teaching, she loves to help students further their musical goals and teaches piano and organ students of all ages.

    Wendy and her husband Steve live in Woodbine, Maryland, have three children and three grandchildren.

    Sheri Peterson

    Sheri Peterson, adjunct organ faculty at Brigham Young University, received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from Brigham Young University where she studied with Don Cook, Douglas Bush, and Brian Mathias. In addition, she has studied with Carol Miles, and Gabriele Terrone, from Italy. Sheri is an experienced organ performer and teacher. She has taught university classes in music theory, sight-singing, dictation, group organ, and private organ lessons and has taught extensively at workshops and conferences, including the annual BYU Organ Workshop. In addition, she has a large private organ and piano studio. Sheri has been involved in church music for over forty years, worked as a professional organist for St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Provo, Utah, for many years, as well as ward organist, and temple organist. She has performed with symphonies, the Utah Baroque Ensemble and other choirs, as a soloist for BYU Devotional, performed numerous recitals and concerts throughout the United States, including at a convention for the West Region American Guild of Organists.

    Actively involved in the American Guild of Organists (AGO), she has served in a variety of capacities, including two terms as dean of the Utah Valley Chapter, sub-dean, and as a member of the Regional Nominating Committee. Sheri has earned her Colleague Certification (CAGO) and has organized many organ workshops, including a Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) for youth, and annual workshops attended by hundreds of people.

    Sheri delights to teach, serve, and help others through music.