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Beloved former conductor of St. Olaf Band dies

By David Gonnerman '90
August 26, 2004

Miles "Mity" Johnson, 75, conductor of the St. Olaf Band from 1957 to 1994, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was in the presence of his wife, Myrna, other family members and friends. The Johnsons have lived in Northfield for 45 years.

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Johnson conducted the St. Olaf Band for more than one-third of its 100-year history, using his energy and talent to build it into one of the nation's premier instrumental ensembles.
During Johnson's more than 37 years as band director at St. Olaf College he led the ensemble on dozens of U.S. tours and several European trips, including three tours to Norway, three to Great Britain and one to the European continent. An acclaimed horn recitalist and master teacher, he mentored hundreds of musicians who have become acclaimed performers and teachers.

Jack Laumer '67, professor of trumpet at Texas State University, attended a recent band reunion at St. Olaf honoring Johnson, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago. Four hundred former students attended the event, which included a concert with alumni playing alongside the St. Olaf Band. "That's when it struck me that he had reached so many people," says Laumer.

Johnson had taken a chance on Laumer, a first-year student, by seating him as principal cornet. "I didn't realize what that meant until much later," says Laumer. "He recognized musical talents and leadership skills that people didn?t know they had. I don't know how he did that." Johnson's professional -- and personal -- mentoring helped launch Laumer into a career that includes playing associate principal trumpet in the Austin Symphony.

Tim Mahr '78, a former student of Johnson's who now leads the St. Olaf Band, says that Mity taught him the beauty in the band sound, "whereas before I primarily found excitement. He showed us that an excellent ensemble will respond to the slightest opening of a hand or the softening of the look in the eyes," he recalls.

In addition to conducting All State Bands in 25 states, Johnson served as guest conductor and clinician for numerous honor bands, festivals, music workshops and summer music camps throughout North America and Norway.

Johnson was raised in Elbow Lake, Minn., a small town in west central Minnesota. Known since childhood as "Mity" (pronounced "mighty"), he began learning music from his mother when he was 4 years old and soon after began piano lessons. In school he excelled in both athletics and music. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead and played in the band and on the football team, an arrangement that couldn't last. When circumstances forced Johnson to make a decision, he chose the band.

Johnson graduated cum laude in 1951 from Concordia College with bachelor of arts and bachelor of music degrees. He next attended Western Reserve University in Ohio, where he earned a master's of music. Prior to serving at St. Olaf College, Johnson served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and taught high school in Hawley, Minn. He began teaching and directing the band at St. Olaf in 1957.

"Some of our students regard their music as almost a kind of therapy," Johnson once said of his career. "After long days in classes, labs and libraries, they come in and blow the cobwebs away. St. Olaf seems to attract students who include music as a complement to whatever other disciplines they happen to be pursuing. Music is very much accepted as a way of life at St. Olaf, something that is normal and good," he explained.

Johnson served as president of the North Central Region of the College Band Directors National Association 1989-90, and he founded the Minnesota Symposium on Instrumental Conducting and the Minnesota Symphonic Winds. Honors include being named one of "Ten Outstanding Music Educators" in the United States in 1973 and "Music Educator of the Year" by the Minnesota Music Education Association in 1987. He received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from Concordia College in 1991 and was also elected to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Johnson also had two days named in his honor by Minnesota governors.

Mity is survived by his wife, Myrna; children Sarah '78 (Stephen Bergen '78) of Fort Collins, Colo., Sigurd (Rooth Varland) of Valley City, N.D., and Tor (Margaret Berg) of Minneapolis; grandchildren Per, Siri, Kai, Kaija, Annika, Berit, Tryg and Gus; brothers Gordon (Ruth) of Indianapolis, Ind., and Ronald (Joyce) of Valley City, N.D.; sister-in-law Joanne Hanson Hebert of Northfield, Minn.; brother-in-law J. Robert (Lois) Hanson of Minneapolis; and eight nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by infant sister Patricia Ann, father Melvin Johnson, mother Margaret and nephew Craig.

A memorial service will be held at St. Olaf in Boe Memorial Chapel on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. with a reception after the service at Buntrock Commons. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Osakis, Minn. The family suggests gifts to the Miles Johnson Endowment Fund at St. Olaf College, the Alzheimer's Association or the Minnesota Symphonic Winds.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.