Summer Organ Recitals:
Francesca Massey
Thursday 12 September 2024 at 7pm
Enjoy the awe-inspiring sound of the Cathedral’s magnificent organ as the evening sun reflects on the unparalleled architecture of the nave during our summer recital series. These concerts will feature some of the country’s leading players, performing a veritable feast of varied organ music.
Francesca Massey now pursues a varied portfolio career as a freelance organist, choral conductor, examiner and music teacher, having worked as a cathedral musician for 15 years. Born in Birmingham, Francesca was educated at Cambridge University and the Royal Northern College of Music (on a prestigious ABRSM Scholarship), holding Organ Scholarships at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and Manchester Cathedral. She later became Assistant Organist at Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge, Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral, Sub-Organist at Durham Cathedral and Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral.
At the age of 19, Francesca gained all of the top prizes in the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists’ diploma and was subsequently awarded the WT Best Memorial Scholarship and Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and the Musicians Benevolent Fund’s Ian Fleming Award. Her teachers included Kevin Bowyer, Jeremy Filsell, David Goode and Andrew Fletcher.
Francesca performs regularly as a recitalist throughout the UK and abroad and works as a liturgical organist/conductor in a number of prestigious London churches and chapels. She has four critically-acclaimed solo recordings to her name on the Priory Records label (Carnival, Bravura, The Forgotten Gem, and The complete works of Maurice Duruflé). Francesca has performed widely as an accompanist (working regularly with groups such as The BBC Singers), broadcasting on TV and Radio, as well as recording numerous CDs with various choirs: she was described as a ‘hugely gifted accompanist’ by Gramophone Magazine. Francesca has also worked extensively as a choral conductor, including as the Musical Director of Cranbrook Choral Society; instrumental teacher, both privately and on courses such as Creative Oundle for Organists; continuo player, pianist and examiner (including for the RCO’s diploma qualifications).
Programme:
Alfred Hollins (1865-1942) – Concert Overture in F minor
Francis Pott (b.1957) – Improvisation on Slane
Herbert Howells (1892-1983) – Organ Sonata no 2
I. Vivo, energico ed agitato
II. Quasi lento, tranquillo
III. Allegro assai
Andrew Fletcher (b.1950) – Dithyramb
Iain Farrington (b.1977) – Bluesday
Healey Willan (1880-1968) – Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue
Advance Tickets:
Adults – £8
Students – £4
Under 18s – Free
On the door tickets:
Adults – £10
Students – £5
Under 18s – Free