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.

Francesca Massey, Sub-Organist

Francesca Massey, Sub-Organist

Francesca Massey took up the post of Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral in September 2011. Prior to this, she was for four years Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral, where in addition to the daily provision of music for services, she regularly accompanied the cathedral choir in concerts, tours, broadcasts and recordings, including the live televised-broadcasts of Midnight Mass and Christmas Day Eucharist in 2008. She recently performed with the choir in the cathedrals of Amiens, Bourges, Blois and Orléans. Born in Birmingham, Francesca was educated at Cambridge University and the Royal Northern College of Music, and has held Organ Scholarships at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (also Acting Precentor for a term) and Manchester Cathedral as well as being Assistant Organist at Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge.

At the age of 19, Francesca gained all of the top prizes in the FRCO diploma and has since been awarded the WT Best Memorial Scholarship and Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and the Musicians Benevolent Fund’s Ian Fleming Award. She has studied with Jeremy Filsell, Kevin Bowyer, David Goode and Andrew Fletcher.

Francesca's recital venues have included many major concert halls, cathedrals and churches in the UK, and she has also performed throughout South Africa, Sardinia, Sweden and Denmark with Caius College Choir, with whom she recorded a number of acclaimed CDs. Francesca has worked as a tutor for Cambridge University Faculty of Music, and on various courses hosted by Oundle for Organists and the RSCM, as well as performing extensively as an organ accompanist, continuo player, pianist, violinist and singer. She is currently the rehearsal accompanist for The Durham Singers.

Organ Scholar

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