Duncan Johnstone
Scottish musician (1925–1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Duncan Johnstone (25 July 1925 – 14 November 1999) was a Scottish bagpiper and composer.[1][2]
Duncan Johnstone | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 July 1925 |
| Died | 2 November 1999 (aged 74) |
| Instrument | Great Highland Bagpipe |
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were Alexander Johnstone (born MacMillan) from Benbecula and his mother Kate MacMillan from Craigston, Barra.[citation needed] His mother was the sister of Father John MacMillan of Barra for whom the 2/4 march piping tune was named.[citation needed] Upon leaving school, he was apprenticed as a cabinetmaker.[3] During World War II, Duncan served with the Submarine Surveillance Mine Sweeping Service in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.[2] On his return from the war, he became a joiner for the Clan Line and Stephen shipyards, whilst taking piping lessons in his free time.[2] He was the first piper to win the Scottish Pipers' Association Knockout Competition in 1964.[2]
In 1974, he moved on to be a bagpipe instructor full-time at the College of Piping in Otago Street, Glasgow; a position he held until 1978 when, he founded his own piping school in Robertson Street. Duncan taught Finlay MacDonald (musician), one of the first pipers to receive a BA in Scottish Music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.[2]
He published three books of traditional and modern pipe music and three solo albums.[2] He was awarded the Balvenie Medal by Messrs Wm Grant & Son in 1996 for his piping achievements.[2]
After his death the Duncan Johnstone Memorial Competition was set up by the National Piping Centre.[4]