John Dempster

Reginald Robert John Dempster (30 August 1885 – 13 May 1942) was a church organist and choirmaster in South Australia. History Dempster was the elder son of Rev. Robert William George Dempster (6 January 1865 – 3 September 1931) and his wife Lydia May Dempster, née Ward, (1868 - 11 July 1946) who married in London on 30 January 1883 and shortly afterward left for South Australia. John Dempster was born at Montacute, South Australia and educated at St. Peter's College. He began his musical career as a chorister at St. Peter's Cathedral at the age of eight. He won a choir scholarship at the college, and also received piano and organ lessons from W. M. "Billy" Hole, the college chapel's organist and choirmaster who died 25 April 1935. He further studied organ playing under Arthur H. Otto at St Peter's Cathedral. He was organist and choirmaster of St Matthews Church, Kensington, then in October 1909 succeeded A. H. Otto at St John's Church, Adelaide, and served there to 1924.