Born in Pittsburgh, PA and raised in Chicago, IL, Julian J. Goods currently serves as Co-Director of Choirs at Detroit School of Arts. He is a two time graduate of the University of Michigan receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. While at the University of Michigan, Mr. Goods studied under Dr. Eugene Rogers, Prof. Daniel Washington, and Dr. James Kibbie and focused on ways to make classrooms and teaching more diverse both in population and the music being taught. In 2018, he traveled to South Africa where he learned about the South African choral music tradition, found ways to incorporate South African music in the classroom, and served as a guest clinician for many choirs in the cities of Pretoria and Soweto. Most recently, Mr. Goods served as guest clinician and conductor for the Illinois American Choral Directors Join Voices Choral Festival, a festival that celebrates choral music in Chicago area schools.

Along with his duties at Detroit School of Arts, Mr. Goods also serves as organist for the historic Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, MI and collaborative pianist for the Rackham Chorus. As an organist, Mr. Goods has appeared in recital at the University of Michigan Organ Conference, The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. Central Region Conference, and has served as organist for many major work concerts, including John Rutter’s Requiem, Dan Forest’s Jubilate Deo, and G.F. Handel’s Messiah which was conducted by Dr. Eugene Rogers. Mr. Goods has served as music director for several production including Encore Theatre’s production of Ain’t MisBehavin’, Basement Arts (Michigan) production of Crowns, Musket’s production of The Wiz, Blank Space Workshop’s production of Diseducated, and the Detroit School of Arts’ production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Beyond his skills at the piano and organ, Mr. Goods has performed as a vocalist in many venues and in various productions including the University Musical Society’s Porgy and Bess: Opera in Concert in 2018.

Mr. Goods prior appointments included Assistant Conductor for the Austin Neighborhood Choirs of the Chicago Children’s Choir, Conductor for the Michigan Gospel Chorale, co-director of the University of Michigan Orpheus Singers and Chamber Choir, and Organist at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church (Detroit, MI) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Flint, MI).

A recipient of several awards, Mr. Goods most recently received an award for his commitment to education by the Detroit Public School Community District and the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award from the North Campus Deans of the University of Michigan for his commitment to social justice, diversity, and inclusion. He also received the Earl V. Moore Award from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance for exemplifying the highest level of artistic achievement in the Music Department, and was named one of the members of the Diapason Magazine’s 20 under 30 Class of 2019 for his devotion to the Organ, the Harpsichord, Carillon, and Church Music. In 2017 and 2018, Mr. Goods was a member of the James Abbington Church Music Academy of Hampton University. Mr. Goods holds membership in a host of organizations including The American Choral Directors Association, The American Guild of Organists, and The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. As a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. he serves as the Central Region Director and Co-Convention Chairperson.