Hewitt Vinnedge Johnston (July 6, 1939–January 13, 2025)

After many years in the ministry, Hewitt Vinnedge Johnston came to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Gladstone, New Jersey in 1997 to serve as Interim Rector as the parish conducted a search for a new rector following the retirement of Canon John Morrow. I’d been a member of St. Luke’s Church since 1989 when Marcia and I moved from Manhattan to Bedminster, so I was on hand when Hewitt arrived. He immediately set about getting to know the members of the parish, and it wasn’t long before he called to ask if he and I might have lunch. We met at Rocco’s Pizzeria in the Hills Village Center in the village of Pluckemin.

After the usual exchange of pleasantries, Hewitt suddenly said, “What tempo do you take in the coda of the final movement of Dimitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5?” Immediately realizing I was not in the company of the average classical music lover, I thought “Someone in the parish must have told Hewitt that I am the music director and conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey.” So, with my left eyebrow raised and my right one lowered, I queried, “Why do you ask?” I went on without waiting for his reply: “I like the tempo taken by the composer’s son, conductor Maxim Shostakovich, who, ignoring his father’s tempo marking of a quarter note = 188, conducts this passage closer to a quarter note = 120, as opposed to Leonard Bernstein’s much faster approach adhering to and perhaps even exceeding the composer’s wishes. And … on those occasions that I’ve conducted this symphony, I’ve taken the slower tempo.”

Having heard both Leonard Bernstein’s and Maxim Shostakovich’s recordings of this work, Hewitt indicated that he much preferred the Bernstein tempo for the coda. And so began a wonderful nearly thirty-year friendship including six years spent working together as colleagues. Over the decades, we would periodically revisit my reasons for taking the slower tempo. We never resolved our differences on this matter. Hewitt never budged an inch—nor did I.

Hewitt was indeed no “average classical music lover.” Classical music was Hewitt’s first love, and that passion remained throughout his entire life. Incredibly knowledgeable, he was in fact a highly-trained and accomplished classical pianist who had performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with a symphony orchestra in Indiana while he was still an undergraduate in college! In case you’re wondering, Tchaik One—as we refer to it in the biz—is not for the faint of heart. Technically, it is a fiendishly difficult concerto to play. When I learned of this accomplishment of his, my estimation of my newly found friend soared even higher.

After his time at St. Luke’s, Hewitt accepted another position as Interim Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bound Brook, New Jersey. But when that tenure concluded, it just so happened that the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey was looking for a new Executive Director. I immediately thought of Hewitt, and upon accidentally meeting him one afternoon in 2001 in the parking lot of King’s supermarket—across the street from the Philharmonic’s office in Warren Township—I surprised him, much as he had surprised me at our first lunch, by saying: “What would you think of becoming the Executive Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey?”

Hewitt looked startled but had a twinkle of interest in his eyes. And before he could say anything by way of a rebuttal, I offered: “You are more than qualified. You’re completely at ease speaking to large gatherings of people. You are a trained classical musician. And dealing with the Board of Trustees of a non-profit will be no different than working with the volunteer (governing) vestry of an Episcopal parish.” “Well,” said Hewitt, “I will have to think about this and, of course, discuss it with Cynthia.” “Take your time—the position won’t start until July 1^st.” The seed was planted.

What an enjoyable and productive six years ensued! Hewitt’s great sense of humor was always in evidence. His command of the English language was beyond reproach. In fact, the rest of us on staff had some favorite “Hewitt-isms”—his judicious use of the word “whilst” being at the top of our list. There were wonderful social occasions both with the orchestra—like our Annual Viennese Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan—which Hewitt relished, and those that Marcia and I shared with just Hewitt and Cynthia. Hewitt was a fellow foodie and a very talented chef. A fond memory I have from one our many pilgrimages into Manhattan took place sitting in the Maull family car in a parking space near the corner of 74^th Street and Broadway. Having just purchased Medjool dates with a schmear of mascarpone cheese at Fairway, a specialty food store dear to the hearts of all Upper Westside residents, we proceeded to eat them––in the car. We just couldn’t wait to drive all the way home to New Jersey to enjoy this delicious treat. Heavenly … no theological puns intended!

Hewitt also helped shepherd us—as perhaps only a member of the clergy could—through the transition of becoming The Discovery Orchestra! Having been the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey since its founding in 1987, the culture of the orchestra had evolved by the time Hewitt took the helm in 2001. After devising and performing our first Discovery Concerts™  in the mid 1990’s, by 2001, we were planning to produce our first public television show, Bach to the Future! Hewitt was right there as a steadying hand in this daunting and sometimes scary enterprise. Needless to say, he was thrilled—along with the rest of the staff—to attend the banquet in Philadelphia to celebrate our Mid-Atlantic Emmy nomination for Bach to the Future and our subsequent national distribution agreement with American Public Television.

The effect of that first television success was to propel the orchestra down a path we could not at first readily discern. Over the next five years it became more and more obvious that teaching audiences how to really listen to rather than to merely hear classical music was the niche in the classical music biz. The Discovery Orchestra needed and wanted to fill—but not everyone was “on board” or happy with this change of direction. Some Trustees preferred the sound and look of “Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey” next to their names as opposed to “The Discovery Orchestra.” Others expressed, “What? No more regular, traditionally formatted programs of the standard symphonic repertoire?” It remained the task of Board President Cathy Aquila and Hewitt together to steer the ship through these uncharted waters––to go “boldly go where no professional symphony orchestra had gone before.” And they came through with flying colors.

By the start of the 2006-07 Season, Hewitt was the Executive Director of the newly incorporated 501(c)3 known as The Discovery Orchestra. With his help, we made it through that challenging transformation in our name and our mission. Hewitt––along with fellow Episcopal clergymen Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith––guided us in fashioning our new mission statement: “We teach the listening skills that help you deeply connect with classical music.” Hewitt Vinnedge Johnston was a person of great love, integrity, passion for music, and service to others. He will be profoundly missed. Hewitt––all of us at The Discovery Orchestra remain grateful for your time with us and the legacy you established for us.