The Organists

James Lancelot, Organist

Canon James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and Organist

James Lancelot is Master of the Choristers and Organist of Durham Cathedral, a position he has held since 1985. Prior to this he was successively a Chorister of St Paul's Cathedral, Organ Scholar of King's College, Cambridge and Sub-Organist of Winchester Cathedral. He studied with Ralph Downes, David Willcocks, Gillian Weir and Nicholas Danby.

At Durham he takes responsibility for the maintenance and development of the cathedral's musical ministry, at whose heart are the services sung daily by the Cathedral Choir. As choirmaster, he has conducted the Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Consort of Singers in concerts, radio and television broadcasts, and recordings — and many thousands of services. He is Conductor of Durham University Choral Society and Past President of the Cathedral Organists Association; in 2002 he became a Lay Canon of Durham Cathedral, and also received Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians.

In addition to his work at the cathedral, James Lancelot pursues a recital career both in Britain and abroad; his travels as an organist have taken him to New Zealand, the USA, Russia, and many European countries, as well as all over Great Britain. He has several CDs and a DVD recording to his name.

Keith Wright, Sub-Organist

Mr Keith Wright, Sub-Organist

Keith Wright has been Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral since 1991, having previously spent seven years as Assistant Organist at Wakefield Cathedral (where he had also been a chorister). He was educated at Edinburgh University, where he was Organ Scholar for four years; there he worked under Kenneth Leighton, whilst pursuing organ studies in London with John Scott. As an organist he has played throughout Europe and in the USA, Canada and Brazil; he has also broadcast regularly and made over a dozen commercial recordings.

Although much of his work is involved with the weekly round of services in the Cathedral, and with the training of the choristers, he is in demand throughout the region as a performer, and plays from time to time with Northern Sinfonia, both as an organist and as a harmoniumist. He directs a chamber choir, Palatinate Voices, and a period-instrument orchestra, Durham Baroque, and is also a part-time member of staff in the Music Department at Durham University. He has a particular interest in Tudor church music, and in performance practices connected with the repertoire of this period: he has prepared a number of editions for use with the Early English Organ Project instruments (which will be in residence in Durham again after Easter 2007), and spent a period of study leave last year pursuing researches amongst the 17th-century manuscripts in the Durham Chapter Library and elsewhere.

Organ Scholar

There is currently no Organ Scholar. Please see the recruitment page for further details.