John began serving professionally as a church organist at the age of 12 in his hometown village in Pennsylvania. His extensive involvement with choral singing in his youth helped to ensure a lifelong involvement in church music. He left rural Pennsylvania Dutch country to pursue studies at The Julliard School in New York City, where he studied piano and organ, earning both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. During this time and after, he served as organist for St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral in Newark, followed by ten years as organist and choir director at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Chatham, New Jersey. Prior to joining St. Stephen's in 2003, he was the pianist and organist for The American Boychoir, touring extensively throughout the nation and abroad. He is married to Paul Gorrell and they live both in New York City and Lebanon, New Jersey, where he gives private instruction.
