Duncan Johnstone
Duncan Johnstone (25 July 1925 – 14 November 1999) was a Scottish bagpiper and composer.[1][2]
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]
In his lifetime he would publish 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.[3]
References
- ^ Gilchrist, Jim (30 January 2012). "Music Review : Celtic Connections : Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band & Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band : ****". The Scotsman. p. 34.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Duncan Johnstone". The Herald. Glasgow. 27 November 1999. p. 18.
- ^ Gilchrist, Jim (4 August 2010). "Folk, Jazz, Etc: Son's suite tribute to the piper's piper, the late Duncan Johnstone". The Scotsman. p. 40.