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Tom Johnson
 The Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is fortunate to have a many
volunteers whose time and talents enable the orchestra to bring
outstanding programs to music lovers in the Southwestern Illinois
region. For tonight’s concert, we salute Tom Johnson.
Although he no longer plays a musical instrument (he once played
cornet), Tom has been an avid enthusiast for classical and symphonic
music for many years. He became a member of the Alton Symphony Orchestra
board of directors in 1999 and has served as Secretary of the board for
several years, researched past concerts and developed a historical list
of performed works, and served on some committees as well. Another
significant contribution as been researching and writing the program
notes for all concerts. In the past five or so years he has written all
of the program notes for our concert program books.
“I have always enjoyed researching the various composers and their
works”, says Tom. “You can almost always find peculiar details as well
as odd tidbits of information about composers and their works which
hopefully make the notes more meaningful to readers. He has often said
that the research process spurs an interest in works or composers with
which he had no prior experience, and typically leads to an interest in
delving further into the works of that composer, or a more focused
desire to listen to the work itself. While he has a number of helpful
books that guide music appreciation he says that access to the Internet
has made the process far more enlightening and, frankly, fun.
Although Tom will be soon retiring from the ASO board, at least for a
while, he will continue to assist the board behind the scenes from time
to time. Over the past four years Tom has been facilitating CIT (Crisis
Intervention Team Training) throughout the state. CIT is a
state-certified program for law enforcement agencies to learn techniques
to interact successfully and safely with persons who have a mental
illness or other behavioral disability. He is also a rail fan and model
railroad enthusiast and participates in the Metro East Model Railroad
Club based in Glen Carbon, and a railroad historical society in Duluth,
Minnesota.
Tom and his wife, Nancy, live in Alton, Illinois, where Nancy heads
Project READ at Lewis and Clark Community College’s Adult Education
Division. Tom is a graduate of Augustana College (undergraduate) and the
University of Illinois (master’s degree). He worked for the Illinois
Office of Mental Health for more than thirty-three years concluding his
career in 2002 with Alton Mental Health Center. In addition to his CIT
work he remains active with United Way and various other volunteer
activities in this area and on a statewide basis.
Thanks, Tom. We salute you for all you do.
(From the Young Artist Presentation Concert Program,
April 19, 2008)
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