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Master Director

Candy Johnson is a bundle of energy who has been directing the Five Valley Chorus since 1983. The chorus's list of accomplishments under her direction is exciting. Five Valley has competed on the International stage with over 100 chorus members and has scored over 600 points at regional competitions. When a director's chorus scores 600 points or more, the director receives the title of Master Director, a great achievement.

On the regional level, In Region 24, Candy served as Director of Musical Activities (DMA) from 1984-1994 and as Competition Coordinator from 1995-1998 and from 2004-2007. As DMA, she founded the Gold Country Chorus, the first Regional Quartet Workshop, the first Director Workshop and planned and coordinated countless Gold Rushes and Mini-Schools. She scheduled many DMA visits by her DMA faculty to choruses throughout the Region. No wonder she was awarded the Regional Rose Achievement Award for her service! But she hasn't stopped there -- she also served as an International Musical Faculty member and travels to coach and teach, has served as a member of the International Chorus Director's Committee and was a Grant Reader for the Young Singers Foundation. In Region 13, Candy has served as Competition Coordinator in 2015 and 2016 and was faculty at the 2016 Northwest Harmony College.

Candy loves to sing in quartets and has sung in several including: Fulltime Enjoyment who won Regional quartet contest in 1982 and who were International semi-finalists in Minneapolis in 1983 and Mountain Music Company who won Regional quartet contest in 1990. Most recently, she has sung Lead with Lynn Dominick, Gigi Midgett and Arlene Kintz in Shazam!

Oh yes, she also has a life outside of Sweet Adelines. She recently retired after 20 years as a grade school principal following 25 years of being a music teacher extraordinaire. Her retirement life includes playing piano for church every Sunday and directing the church choir, being the wedding organizer for church, teaching private piano, serving on the board for Missoula Aging Services, supervising student teachers for the University of Montana, mentoring two teachers at her previous school and teaching piano classes for Adult Education. She has recently added to her non-barbershop performing experiences by singing with the Gary Gillette Big Band in Missoula! On top of that, she spends as much time as possible with her energetic young grandsons!

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