John J. McClellan

Who was John J. McClellan?

John Jasper McClellan, Jr. served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1900 to 1925.

McClellan was born in Payson, Utah Territory. By the age of eleven McClellan was serving as a church organist in Payson. McClellan's father, also John J. McClellan, served as mayor of Payson from 1887 to 1890.

In 1891, McClellan went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied under Albert W. Platte. He then went to the Ann Arbor Conservatory where he studied under Johann Erich Schmaal. He also studied with Alberto Jonas while there. He served as organist of St. Thomas Catholic Church while in Ann Arbor. He also served as pianist of the Ann Arbor Choral Union.

In 1896, McClellan returned to Utah where he taught music at LDS College and at Brigham Young Academy. It was during this time that McClellan married Mary Douglass. They eventually became the parents of five children. He also served as the pianist for the Salt Lake Opera Company.

In 1899, McClellan went to Berlin, Germany where he studied with Xaver Scharwenka and Ernest Jedliczka.