Herbert Johnson, a Bethel University music professor, plays Burgmuller’s “Confidence” on the piano in his office during his spare time after a music performance studio class Thursday. “It’s just what I need right now,” he said jokingly. | Photo by Sabrina Mecicar

Herbert Johnson balances two dreams

Bethel University Professor holds on to his dreams after years of work.

By Sabrina Mecicar, writer

Herbert Johnson is next to audition. He’s nervous, as most musicians are, but his lifetime of performance experience helped him get over some fear. He starts performing Chopin’s Ballade №3 in A-flat Major, then works by Mozart and Haydn. It lasts an hour.

It’s the spring of 1987. Johnson is auditioning to get into New York City’s reputable Manhattan School of Music. He originally wanted to become a teacher, with teaching music taking second place. But after his first semester at Evangel University, he saw how much the music teachers loved their work. He eventually applied to Bethel University in 2008 and has taught there since.

“I just realized music is what I want to do,” Johnson said.

Pianist and Bethel University music professor Herbert Johnson plays Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in C major” in his office during a student piano lesson Wednesday. Since joining Bethel’s music faculty in 2008, he’s enjoyed the specific emphasis on piano. “I liked the fact that I can come here and really focus on piano students,” he said. | Photo by Sabrina Mecicar

Johnson is from White Plains in Westchester County, New York. Wanting to play like his older sister Ruth, Johnson started taking lessons at 7 from Mrs. Bryant, the neighbor down the street. He started performing in church, and kept playing through his education.

Johnson was in his last years at MSM when he failed his comprehensive exam. He’d never failed in anything to that level.

“It just really floored me,” he said.

Johnson had to wait six months to retake it, but studied all summer and passed the second time.

Johnson graduated from MSM after five years with a DMA in 1992. He performed in concerts, traveled to Ukraine with a choir, and remembered the audience members who walked to the stage during the performance to place flowers for them.

He moved to Minnesota in 1994 to teach and since 2008, he’s worked with the Bethel University music faculty.

“If I can play pieces and demonstrate for my students how the piano should be played, then I’ll be happy.” — Herbert Johnson, professor and concert pianist.

“Dr. Johnson’s ‘superpower’… is his ability to get along with others in the department,” music professor Steven Thompson said.

Johnson makes time for both his performances and his teaching, not letting either take the backburner.