EDIE JOHNSON is the Music Director/Organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN and a lecturer in the College of Music at University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she teaches private organ, harpsichord, and courses in organ literature and sacred music. She is also a freelance organist, chamber musician, presenter, and teacher. Edie formerly served as Organist and Music Associate at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, TN and Assistant Organist/Choir Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.
At age 13, Edie began organ study with Johnny Bradburn at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, N.C. She completed the B. Mus. in organ, Magna cum laude, at Furman University, as a student of Charles Tompkins. She then earned both the Master and Doctor of Music degrees at Indiana University, studying with Larry Smith. Edie has also studied organ with Marilyn Keiser and harpsichord with Elizabeth Wright. Her piano study has been with Derek Parsons, David Gibson, George Kiorpes, and Alice Ann Johnson.
Edie has performed for national conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Organ Historical Society, and the National General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ Church. Several of her performances have been broadcast on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. In the summer of 2011, she premiered Pamela Decker’s first concerto for organ, El Tigre, at the Southeast Region AGO convention and she was a featured performer and presenter at the 2015 Great Lakes Regional AGO Convention in Indianapolis, IN. As a pianist, she has performed concerts of music for two pianos with Fay Adams and has also performed in chamber ensembles.
This past summer Edie served as an instructor in the Chattanooga AGO’s Pipe Organ Encounter for Adults and led a presentation entitled “Befriending the Butterflies: Techniques to Manage Performance Anxiety for Busy Musicians” at the 2024 AGO National Convention in San Francisco.
A particular interest is the use of mental imagery and rehearsal in music learning, teaching and performing. Edie has given many presentations to universities, AGO chapters and conventions, and to the Association of Anglican Musicians based on her doctoral paper that discusses techniques to optimize practice sessions and relieve performance anxieties. She studies Alexander Technique in Knoxville with Lilly Sutton.
Edie resides in Knoxville, TN, with her husband, Jason Overall, Director of Music/Organist at St. John's Cathedral. They have two children, James age 17 and Elizabeth age 10, along with two sweet kitties, Albie and Maisie.