# Mark Johnstone career timeline

Mark Johnstone’s career took him from his native St. Paul to Denton and New York, then to central New Jersey. Along the way, he played guitar and theorbo, published a book of holiday arrangements, and directed The Guitars of Westminster. He now teaches guitar and lute near Princeton.

[View the career timeline](/timeline/)

## Guitar and early music (1986–2000)

Mark began with classical guitar and took up historical instruments, including the theorbo. By 2000, he had arranged a collection of holiday music for students and working guitarists.

### 1986–87 · First steps with guitar

Mark took up guitar in the summer of 1986 and gave his first performance the following spring.

[Mel Bay author biography](https://www.melbay.com/Author/Default.aspx?AuthorId=38516)

### Early studies · Studying guitar and history in St. Paul

Mark earned bachelor’s degrees in guitar performance and American history at the University of St. Thomas.

[Mel Bay author biography](https://www.melbay.com/Author/Default.aspx?AuthorId=38516) · [Rider faculty profile notes](/timeline/#rider-profile)

### Nov. 30, 1993 · *Spectrum II* at the University of North Texas

Mark played guitar in this recital of new compositions in Denton. The UNT Music Library’s concert record is public. Audio playback is restricted to the UNT community.

[View the 1993 UNT concert record](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc802141/)

### Apr. 11, 1995 · Theorbo with the Morley Consort

Mark was listed on theorbo with the Morley Consort for guitarist Sara E. Werland’s senior recital. The program included music by Thomas Morley and Richard Nicholson.

[UNT recital program](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc763/m1/146/)

### 1995–96 season · Theorbo in UNT’s early music ensembles

Mark’s theorbo credits included two of the university’s early music ensembles, the Morley Consort and Les Petits Violons.

[Morley Consort program](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc730/m1/285/) · [Les Petits Violons program](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc729/m1/154/)

### Feb. 6, 1996 · *La Catedral* at UNT

Mark was on the program for a classical guitar recital with Agustín Barrios’s *La Catedral*.

[UNT recital program](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc730/m1/54/)

### Fall 1997 · Graduate study in Denton

Mark completed the coursework for a master’s in guitar performance at the University of North Texas.

[Mel Bay author biography](https://www.melbay.com/Author/Default.aspx?AuthorId=38516)

### New York · New York studies and early music

In New York, Mark pursued graduate studies at Hunter College and worked with Pat O’Brien on lute and 19th-century guitar. His ensemble work included Baroque guitar and theorbo continuo with *I Virtuosi del Seicento* and *Longa Minima*, and 19th-century guitar with *Le Meslange des Plaisirs*.

Mark also taught at UNT, The College of New Jersey, the Peddie School, and Montclair State’s Preparatory Center for the Arts. He played guitar at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jersey City.

[Rider faculty profile notes](/timeline/#rider-profile) · [Mel Bay author biography](https://www.melbay.com/Author/Default.aspx?AuthorId=38516) · [Scheide’s ensemble page](https://kathleenscheide.com/ensembles.html)

### Oct. 13, 2000 · *The Holiday Gig Book*

Mel Bay published Mark’s collection of 71 holiday pieces for solo classical and fingerstyle guitar. Many tunes begin with an easy arrangement and build to an intermediate setting. Rider’s faculty profile quotes a favorable review in *Classical Guitar* magazine. The arrangements later became part of [Westminster’s holiday concerts](/timeline/#westminster-holiday-concerts).

[Explore the book and contents](/book/) · [Mel Bay publication record](https://www.melbay.com/Products/98674/the-holiday-gig-book.aspx)

## The Westminster years (2010–2021)

In New Jersey, Mark performed with fellow guitarists, taught at Westminster Conservatory, and directed its guitar ensemble. His holiday arrangements became part of the group’s concert repertoire.

### Dec. 17, 2010 · Westminster holiday faculty recital

Mark was billed for a holiday recital at Williamson Hall. The program included a Christmas sonata, *Three Moons* for cello and guitar, and variations on *We Wish You a Merry Christmas*.

[Princeton Info holiday listings](https://princetoninfo.com/artsandentertainment/concerts-carols-and-holiday-cheer/)

### Nov. 7, 2014 · Guitar duo at Rider University Art Gallery

Mark and guitarist Peter Plomchok were billed for a program of works by Antoine de Lhoyer at Rider’s Bart Luedeke Center in Lawrenceville.

[Princeton Info season preview](https://princetoninfo.com/artsandentertainment/classical-music/)

### Holiday repertoire · Holiday concerts at Drumthwacket and Morven Museum

The Guitars of Westminster brought arrangements from [*The Holiday Gig Book*](/book/) to holiday concerts at Drumthwacket and Princeton’s Morven Museum.

[Rider faculty profile and Westminster catalog](/timeline/#references)

### Oct. 20, 2019 · A Halloween concert with the Westminster Community Orchestra

The Guitars of Westminster, directed by Mark, were on the orchestra’s Halloween program alongside new works by Westminster composers.

[New Jersey Stage event preview](https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2019/10/13/westminster-community-orchestra-presents-halloween-trick-or-treat-on-october-20/)

### Jan. 31, 2020 · A benefit recital with Vladislav Bláha

The Guitars of Westminster scheduled a Bristol Chapel recital with visiting guitarist Vladislav Bláha to raise money for student festival attendance and new music commissions.

[New Jersey Stage event preview](https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2020/01/25/westminster-conservatorys-guitars-of-westminster-hosts-visiting-artist-vladislav-blaha/)

### March 2020 · Guitar lessons move online

When the pandemic closed in-person classes, Mark began teaching by video. He told *Town Topics* how he adapted lessons for his students.

[*Town Topics*, March 18, p. 5 (PDF, 51 MB)](https://www.towntopics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TT-3-11-20-luxury-living.pdf#page=5)

### 2020–21 · Teaching and directing at Westminster

As instructor of The Guitars of Westminster, Mark worked with students on music from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The ensemble’s activities included festivals and benefit concerts.

[Westminster catalog excerpt](/assets/westminster-catalog-guitar-ensemble.png) · [Rider’s catalog, p. 10 (PDF)](https://www.rider.edu/sites/default/files/files/20200608_wccconserv_Class_Catalog_2020-2021.pdf#page=10) · [Backup copy (PDF)](/assets/westminster-conservatory-catalog-2020-2021.pdf#page=10)

[Rider’s faculty profile](https://www.rider.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/mark-johnstone) describes a Westminster studio of more than 60 students, three guitar ensembles, and beginning guitar instruction at Rider. It also notes his students’ prizes in local competitions.

## New music and collaborations (2022–2024)

Mark’s work at Westminster brought guitarists together with local composers and the community orchestra.

### Oct. 23, 2022 · *Concertino for Autumn*

Mark and The Guitars of Westminster were billed to join the Westminster Community Orchestra for the world premiere of Kathleen Scheide’s *Concertino for Autumn*. They had previously premiered Scheide’s *Echo* for guitars and orchestra.

[*Town Topics*, Oct. 19, p. 24 (PDF, 63 MB)](https://www.towntopics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TT-10-19-22-Digital-Issue.pdf#page=24)

### June 2023 · A proposed gathering for local guitarists

Mark spoke with the New Jersey Classical Guitar Society about holding occasional meetings at Westminster Conservatory, potentially alongside other guitar events.

[The Tirando, PDF page 2](https://njguitarsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/June-2023.pdf#page=2)

### Apr. 13, 2024 · Guitar in *60 Ellipses Around the Sun*

Mark was listed on guitar for a Westminster faculty recital at Bristol Chapel featuring Cecelia Reilly’s music.

[New Jersey Stage recital preview](https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2024/04/06/westminster-conservatory-faculty-recital-series-presents-music-of-cecelia-reilly042024/)

### Undated · *Into the Abyss*

Mark and The Guitars of Westminster commissioned this guitar quartet by composer Kevin J. Cope.

[Composer’s credit](https://www.kevinjcope.com/guitar-in-ensembles)

## Today · Study with Mark

Mark teaches classical guitar and lute in students’ homes near Princeton. He works with students of all ages and offers 30- and 60-minute lessons.

[Explore private lessons](/lessons/)