John Francis Johnstone

Johnstone, John Francis

John Francis Johnstone. Teacher, organist, b Kirkburton, West Yorkshire, England, 25 Nov 1838, d Toronto 24 Feb 1913. A printer and school teacher, Johnstone emigrated to Canada in 1880 and devoted himself entirely to music after his arrival in Toronto. He was associated with the CNE, taught privately, and was organist at Broadway Tabernacle and, later, at Christ Church, Lippincott and College streets. Imrie & Graham published ca 1886-90 a dozen of his songs, some to words by John Imrie. They include 'The Young Musician,' 'The Humber Fairy,' and 'Dear Canada, to Thee.'

Johnstone's granddaughter Lillian, a cellist and pianist, was married to Oliver E. Woods, an oboist and french horn player who had played with the John Philip Sousa band and in New York with Damrosch and served in the TSO as an oboist 1923-6 and principal oboe 1925-6 and 1931-2. Their daughter was the bassoonist Maxine Woods Shimer.