- Date Of Birth: July 17, 1926
- Date Of Death: March 24, 2010
- State: Arizona
Deral J. Johnson 83, of Flagstaff, died Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at the Olivia White Hospice Home.
Mr. Johnson was born July 17, 1926, in Roosevelt, Okla., to “Shirley” and Lonita Johnson. He joined University of Western Ontario’s music faculty in 1969 and formed a 40-voice mixed choir, which he conducted for two decades.
“During his many years, Deral established Western as a leading center for excellence in choral music,” Wright faculty dean Robert Wood said in a statement Thursday. “His influence on choral music in this country and internationally is vast and continues through the many students who had the good fortune to be able to work with Deral in one of the many choirs that he directed or in the choral courses that he taught at the faculty.”
The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada lists many honors for Johnson – known as “DJ” to friends, faculty and students – including CBC and BBC Radio triumphs. He was one of the conductors at the Centennial Hall premiere of R. Murray Schafer’s Apocalypsis in 1980.
He also conducted London Pro Musica in the early 1970s. Johnson retired from the faculty in 1991, but continued to live in London later that decade. He was at UWO for the Wright faculty’s 40th anniversary celebration in October 2008 and conducted the massed choirs for one number. As a professor, he founded the Don Wright faculty’s choral-music program at UWO and influenced choir conductors and educators across North America.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of more than 59 years, Marie Johnson; daughter, Gail Salameh (Youssef) of Anthem; son Merrill Johnson (Lynn) of Slidell, La.; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Marsha Johnson. A Foundation Western fund honoring Johnson was started in February.
