John Klein

Composer, author, conductor, pianist, organist and carilloneur, educated at the Philadelphia Musical Academy, the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg and Ursinus College, and in private music study with Nadia Boulanger, Igor Stravinsky, Marcel Dupre, and Paul Hindemith. Between 1937 and 1942 he was the chief organist for the Broadstreet Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio, and from 1944 to 1957 he was a pianist and composer for recordings, films, radio and television. He composed the US Treasury radio shows, including the 'American Notebook' series (which won the US Treasury District Service Citation and the Silver Medal) and the US Army radio show 'Sound Off!' (for which he composed the title theme). At the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, the Salzburg Music Festival and at the International Carillon Festival recitals in Cobh, Ireland he played the Schulmerich Carillon Americana Bells. He joined the Composers Guild of America, the American Guild of Organists and, in 1953, ASCAP. He became director of music for Schulmerich Carillons, Incorporated, and associate music director and instructor for the Columbus Boychoir School in Ohio. His popular-instrumental compositions include "The Yellowstone Suite" and "Cranberry Corners, USA".