In addition to financial success and audience growth, the MSA has enjoyed tremendous improvements in visibility and outreach during John's tenure.  John has been instrumental in developing the extremely popular Holiday Concerts, the free summer concert Symphony in the Park enjoyed each year by thousands, and the annual Family Concert, which is consistently sold out.  John also serves as Principal Trumpet of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Brass Quintet.

Prior to his position with the MSA, John worked in administration with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Montana Summer Symphony.  From 1999-2001, he was Festival Coordinator for Missoula's International Choral Festival, bringing fifteen choirs from around the world to Missoula, including the first-ever performance on American soil by the phenomenal Cuban Choir Exaudi. 

John holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a master of music degree from the University of Tennessee, where he was a teaching assistant in trumpet. John moved into orchestra management after several years as a professional trumpet player and college teacher.

John currently serves as Chair of Advisory C Orchestras for the League of American Orchestras, and consequently serves on the League's board of directors.  He is also a founding board member of Ars Nova Press, a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving and making available the music of outstanding composers.

Active in the Missoula community, John is a member of the Missoula Rotary Club, graduated from the Chamber of Commerce's "Leadership Missoula" program, and has served on the board of the Missoula Convention and Visitors Bureau.