John Turner

John Turner began his musical career as pianist for the Calvary Baptist Church at the age of
nine in his hometown of Fairfield, Iowa. While in high school, he was invited to join the
“Aristocrats”, a local professional dance band. After attending two years at Iowa Wesleyan
College he joined the United States Air Force as a bandsman and served over twenty years
before retiring in 1989. His last assignment before retirement was as pianist and arranger for
the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs. John went on to finish his undergraduate music
degree at the University of Southern Colorado (1990) and received a Master of Music degree in
composition from the University of Colorado (1995).
John’s post military career includes 25 years at the Broadmoor International
Hotel and Resort in Colorado Springs, various church positions (pianist, organist, accompanist,
choir director and praise band director), accompanist for the Wasson High School vocal music
department and as Artist-in-Residence at the Colorado State University in Pueblo, Colorado
(Instructor of music technology, applied piano, orchestration and director of the vocal jazz
ensemble). His compositions and arrangements appear in the catalogs of Lorenz, Augsburg-
Fortress, Lillenas and the UNC Jazz Press as well as many issues of The Church Pianist
Magazine (published by Lorenz).
John recently took a position as pianist/organist at the nearby Fairfield Glade Community
Church and continues to compose and arrange music. You can view a 2012 demo video of his
previous band “JORICA” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE5qUXtvNel. You can also see
and hear more of his music at www.cdbaby.com and www.scoreexchange.com (just type John
Turner in the search bar).