Fergus Johnston

Fergus Johnston (born 21 May 1959) is an Irish composer and member of Aosdána. Life and career Johnston was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of the physicist and political activist Roy H. W. Johnston, and studied for both a degree in music and a master’s degree in Music and Media Technology at Trinity College Dublin (MusB 1982). He also has a PhD in composition from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Initially, he had also studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin (flute with Doris Keogh, clarinet with Tim Hanafin, and composition with James Wilson). In 1985, he was invited by the European Community Youth Orchestra to write an orchestral piece under the guidance of György Ligeti. From 1989 to 1991, he was Chairman of the Association of Irish Composers. He completed his education with the English composer Robert Hanson. Johnston’s output includes works for both orchestra and smaller ensembles, some works of which include electronics, and two operas. His music has been performed at many venues and festivals including the 1985 Asolo Musica Festival in Italy, the 1996 International Society for Contemporary Music Festival, the 2001 Sonorities Festival of Contemporar