Muriel Johnstone, born on June 1, 1947, in West Hartlepool, England, to Scottish parents, is a Scottish pianist and composer celebrated for her contributions to traditional Scottish music. She began playing piano at age seven and violin at eight, later studying classical music at the University of Edinburgh and graduating with a BMus in 1968. Johnstone’s career flourished through her work as an accompanist for Scottish country dancing, beginning with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) Summer School in 1975, where she became the youngest accompanist ever. She served as Director of Music for RSCDS and has composed over 800 pieces, many commissioned for dances and special events, including The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances (2004), honoring William Speirs Bruce’s Antarctic expedition. In 2002, she was awarded the RSCDS Scroll of Honour.
