Frances Johnston

Biography

Frances Johnston’s organ career began at the age of sixteen in a small Baptist Church in Playa del Rey, California. She began real organ studies at El Camino College with Dr. James Hurd. From there, she went to USC to study with Ladd Thomas. Since then, she has served in a variety of churches and taught high school choral music and handbells. In 2023, she retired from a 31-year position as Organist and Worship Associate at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana, CA. She currently serves part-time at All Saints Anglican Cathedral in Long Beach, CA.

Fran has been active in the Pasadena (now merged with Los Angeles), Orange County and Long Beach chapters of the AGO, having served as Dean of both Pasadena and Orange County. Over the years, she has presented educational workshops on the subjects of improvisation (or lack thereof), voluntary selection, hymn interpretation, and choral accompanying.