Mark Johnstone
A life in
guitar.
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.
Explore the timeline
1986–2000
Guitar and early music
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.
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1986–87
First steps with guitar
Mark took up guitar in the summer of 1986 and gave his first performance the following spring.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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La Catedral at UNT
Mark was on the program for a classical guitar recital with Agustín Barrios’s La Catedral.
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Fall 1997
Graduate study in Denton
Mark completed the coursework for a master’s in guitar performance at the University of North Texas.
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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 · Mel Bay author biography · Scheide’s ensemble page
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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.
2010–2021
The Westminster years
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.
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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.
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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.
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Holiday repertoire
Holiday concerts at Drumthwacket and Morven Museum
The Guitars of Westminster brought arrangements from The Holiday Gig Book to holiday concerts at Drumthwacket and Princeton’s Morven Museum.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Rider’s faculty profile 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.
2022–2024
New music and collaborations
Mark’s work at Westminster brought guitarists together with local composers and the community orchestra.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Undated
Into the Abyss
Mark and The Guitars of Westminster commissioned this guitar quartet by composer Kevin J. Cope.
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.
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