Johnny Steiner is a conductor.

Johnny has served as vocal director for numerous theatrical productions at Marion's historic Palace Theatre. They include Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair, Annie, Oliver, An Evening with Friends, Rodger's and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, Hello Dolly!, and the beloved musical classic The Wizard of Oz.

In addition to directing the chorus at Saint Charles Preparatory School, Johnny is actively involved in the school's amazing theater program. At Saint Charles Theater, Johnny has served as vocal director, music director, and/or conductor for productions that include All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Stephen Schwartz's Children Of Eden, The Man Who Came To Dinner, and the central Ohio premieres of the stage adaptation of the award-winning children's book Holes, Christopher Durang's Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge and Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses.

Johnny also directs the weekly contemporary worship service at North Community Lutheran Church. This entails choosing and leading the songs, planning and overseeing all aspects of the worship service. Occasionally, Johnny conducts the church's senior choir and bell choir. In the fall of 2005, Johnny served as music director for composer Tom Long's children's musical Mary and Martha: the Divine Secrets of the Yahweh Sisterhood.

I can't begin to tell you how rewarding being a conductor is!

I have worked several years at Marion's Palace Theatre with Clare Cooke, George Schram, and Carol Hansen. In 1999 they asked me to be vocal director for Rodger's and Hammerstein's State Fair. What an incredible experience that was for me in so many ways. I am truly honored to be part of such a class act. Directing vocals for musical theater is a frantic experience - you have a group of strangers thrust together, and precious little time to make them sound like they've been singing together for years and years. Mix in there the ever-surprising and unpredictable musical theater music, and being a vocal director presents a unique challenge for even the most skilled musician. I have loved every show I've been a part of with my wonderful Marion friends, and look forward to many more.

Saint Charles Theater - arguably the finest high school theater program in central Ohio - has provided me the opportunity to be a part of so many shows I wouldn't have been otherwise. Their excellence is due to the direction of Mr. Doug Montgomery, whom I am so very lucky to know. I have conducted many of their shows - from the volatile rock and roll music of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to the serene and beautiful melodies of Children of Eden - and I look forward to my involvement there for years to come.

Conducting a choir day in and day out is an incredible musical journey. At the high-school level, I strive to make musicians out of many students who are new to the entire idea of an organized music activity. Many of the chorus members at Saint Charles are completely new to singing - which presents an obvious musical-hurdle we must overcome! I say 'we,' because I am so fortunate to share my choral duties at Saint Charles with Mr. Doug Montgomery. It is truly a labor of love every day in chorus, and our concerts each year get better and better.

Conducting adult choirs, like the one at North Community Lutheran Church is an experience quite opposite from mine at Saint Charles. Our fine choir at church is made up of folks from all walks of life - all fantastic musicians in their own right. The choir's devotion and dedication to serving the church is a testament to their amazing leadership, provided by Dr. Craig Johnson - who also serves as department chair of the music program at Otterbein College. Our church organist, Mr. Dennis Crill, is not only an exceptional musician, but an invaluable member of the church family.

I truly love all of my many conducting duties, and I'm forever grateful for my conducting mentors - David DeVenney, Craig Johnson, and George Schram. You three can 'flap your arms' with the best of 'em.