Thelma Johnson earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance at the MacPhail College/University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN.  She studied with Vera Narregang.  She taught piano and was staff accompanist at MacPhail for a number of years.  She now maintains her own studio.  Accompanying has been her specialty, and she has worked with artists from the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.  She accompanied many artists in master classes, including Joseph Gingold, Jean Pierre Rampal, Leonard Rose and Isaac Stern.

Thelma is an active member of the Schubert Club of St. Paul, Thursday Musical, Minnesota Music Teachers Association, National Music Teachers Association, St. Paul Piano Teachers,  Young People’s Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) and the Women’s Association of the Minnesota Orchestra (WAMSO). 

Thelma’s mother was her first piano teacher and under her guidance, Thelma began teaching in high school and has taught well over 50 years.  Her husband and two sons are also professional musicians.