Marjorie White Johnstone

RICHMOND, Ind. – Marjorie White Johnstone, age 87, singer, teacher, and choral director, died Friday, October 11, 2024. Born August 15, 1937, in New Castle, Indiana, the sixth child of Sidney C. and Gladys M. White. She attended grace school at Cadiz, Milton, Bentonville, and Modoc, and was graduated from Lincoln High School in Cambridge City, Indiana, where she was awarded the Vocal Music Award and the Psi Iota Xi Scholarship. Marjorie attended the Earlham College IU Center for one year, then Earlham College where she was graduated in 1963 with a BA degree in Music. She studied voice with Hazel Dell Nordsieck, Robert Powell, Helen Laird, Duvonna Rowe, Andre Arne, and Mary Hagopian. She has been active in all of Richmond’s musical programs and events. On the Founding Board of Directors of the Whitewater Opera Company, she sang leading roles in the early productions of “Magic Flute,” “Elixir of Love,” “Die Fledermaus,” “Cosi van Tutte,” and Marie, in “The Daughter of the Regiment.” Her first role at Richmond Civic Theatre was Eliza in “My Fair Lady” for which she received the Best Actress Award. She received Best Actress Award for Agnes in “I Do! I Do!” and also for dramatic roles in “Silent Night, Lonely Night” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” Other musical theatre roles include Fiona in “Brigadoon,” Luisa in “The Fantasticks,” Anna in “The King and I,” and Nettie in “Carousel” in area theatre. She and her husband Bob appeared together in “Gaslight.” Marjorie was the soprano soloist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s “Solemn Vespers” under Manfred Blum (1979), Faure’s “Requiem” under Leonard Holvik (1984), and “Carmina Burana” under Charles Combopiano (1994). Marjorie and her husband Bob with pianist Carol Lou Woodward performed several popular music concerts. Marjorie was choir director at West Richmond Friends Meeting since 2012. She had spent nearly 25 years in church music before that as Director of Music at First Christian Church (1981 – 1999), Bell Choir Director at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church (1992 – 1997), and First Friends Choir Director (1992 – 1997). Her teaching career began in 1978. She has been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing since 1990. Starting in a private studio, her teaching included adjunct instructor of voice at Ball State and Taylor Universities. In 1995, she began teaching at Indiana University East and continued until 2012. Marjorie was given their Excellence of Teaching Award in 2001. With her husband Bob, they led four off-campus study programs to England. She taught a course in British Music which included attending early music concerts in Wigmore Hall to Victorian Music Hall to Gilbert and Sullivan. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Bryon, Bob, Don, and Keith White; and sister, Doris Graver. Marjorie is survived by her husband of 44 years, Bob; son Eric Barker of Taylor Mill, Kentucky; daughter, Amy (Steve) Cowart of Milton, Florida; step-daughter, Gwyneth Johnstone of Paris, France; four grandchildren, Amber Parker, Ian (Karrie) Arnold, Stephanie (David) Lawler, and Steven Cowart; eleven great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. To the hundreds of beloved voice students, her last directions are to keep singing! Memorial services for Marjorie Johnstone will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9, 2024, at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 609 West Main Street, Richmond. Arrangements are being handled by Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to: Earlham College, Department of Music, 801 West National Road, Richmond, Indiana 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Marjorie White Johnstone

August 15, 1937 - October 11, 2024