John J. Moncrieff

Moncrieff, John J.

John J. (James) Moncrieff. Journalist, choirmaster, conductor, bass-baritone, b Scalloway, Shetland Islands, 19 Oct 1865, d Winnipeg 11 Apr 1939. His family settled in the Red River Settlement of St Andrews when he was 10. There he played violin with a small orchestra. His professional life was spent as a journalist - he was a co-founder of the Winnipeg Tribune in 1890 and associate editor 1920-36. He was bass soloist at Knox Presbyterian Church and then choirmaster and soloist 1906-25 at Augustine Church, to which he invited the organist Lynnwood Farnam and other guests. He organized concert series featuring other internationally known artists. A founder in 1908 and a conductor of the Winnipeg Oratorio Society, he prepared the choir for many performances of Messiah and Elijah with the visiting Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 1915 Moncrieff was a founding member of the Men's Music Club of Winnipeg.

See also John (May) Moncrieff (his son) and Anna Moncrieff (his daughter).