Dr. John Ferguson is the Elliot & Klara Stockdal Johnson Professor of Organ and Church Music Minister of Music to the Student Congregation of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. He earned his bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College, a master of music degree from Kent State University, and a doctoral of musical arts from the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Ferguson now directs the church music-organ program where he is responsible for teaching organ and conducting the St. Olaf Cantorei. He joined the St. Olaf faculty in 1983 after serving as music director and organist of the Central Lutheran Church for five years.

Dr. Ferguson came to the Central Lutheran Church after a 15-year tenure on the music faculty at Kent State University. During his tenure, he served as the organist-choirmaster of the United Church of Christ in Kent, Ohio, and music editor for the United Church of Christ Hymnal, 1974.
Dr. Ferguson has received national commendation for his ability to lead congregational song and is greatly respected as a teacher and performer. He also organizes and leads festivals across the country for both congregations and professionals. As an author of countless books and articles pertaining to the subject of church music and organ building, Dr. Ferguson brings an exceptional amount of expertise to any project on which he works. His composition “Who Is This” won the prestigious Raabe Prize for excellence in sacred composition in 2005.