David Johnstone - CELLIST, COMPOSER AND CREATIVE MUSICIAN

David Johnstone is considered one of the most creative and interesting string players in the Iberian peninsula today, combining a career as a cellist with that of a busy composer. Although British by birth he has, for over a decade, been principal cellist of the ‘Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra’ of Spain, and a composer who specializes in string and/or lighter classical writing. In particular, he composes for all the bowed string instruments as soloists, and for chamber groups of various sizes (some including wind and brass instruments). He also specializes in writing String Orchestra pieces that are well within the capabilities of youth and conservatoire orchestras, whilst other compositions are better suited to fully professional ensembles (such as the ‘Camerata Cambrensis’, conducted by Caroline Collier, who have premiered several works). Indeed, many of his compositions are now published by Creighton’s Collection of Great Britain (see the section ‘Sheet Music’). His compositions have been heard in more than thirty countries across five continents and on European radio stations and television channels – particularly Spanish National Television ‘Tele Cinco’, who have featured many of his chamber works.

As a performer he has European-wide orchestral and ensemble experience, including playing for renowned orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the English String Orchestra. He has also performed in London West-End shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Barnum etc., and regularly recorded for BBC Radio programmes. As an arranger, his adventurous attitude has seen him arrange anything from solo cello to full orchestra with choir, and also to folk-influenced music from around the world. Additionally, he has organized the music for multi-cello groups, composed for animation films (especially for Channel 4 Television, UK), improvised on the cello in silent films (Cine Chimera), ventured into jazz (with the Basque pianist Mikel Gaztelurrutia), into ragtime (the London Ragtime Orchestra), and into celtic based music (especially Scottish).

He is at present a member of the well-established concert trio ‘B3 Classic’ (clarinet-cello-piano), of Neofusion (based around accordion and cello), and of new-age music formations led by Joaquín Taboada. He also participates in varying projects with the well-known actress and presenter Belén Otxotorena.

He is married to Rosa María and has two children, Kevin and Jon-Erik. They live near Pamplona, the capital city of the Navarre region of Spain. His hobbies include current affairs and politics, all things ‘celtic’ (especially geography and travel), animals (also animal welfare and animal rights), and most sports (he has followed Reading Football Club since schooldays!).

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