Francesca Massey (born 1982) is the former Organist and Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral, a position she held from September 2019 to August 2022, when she was succeeded by

Adrian Bawtree Adrian Bawtree (born 1968) is an English composer and organist who currently serves as Director of Music and Organist at Rochester Cathedral. Education and family Bawtree was educated at Christ's Hospital before attending the University of Oxf ...

. Previously she was Sub-Organist at

Durham Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly known as Durham Cathedral and home of the Shrine of St Cuthbert, is a cathedral in the city of Durham, County Durham, England. It is the seat of t ...

from 2011. In addition to being a professional Church/Concert Organist, Massey is actively engaged as a Choral Conductor, Pianist, Organ and Music Teacher both privately and on behalf of Durham University, Oundle for Organists and the RSCM. Born in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

in 1982, Francesca was educated at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

and the

Royal Northern College of Music The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is a conservatoire located in Manchester, England. It is one of four conservatoires associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In addition to being a centre of music education ...

(on a prestigious ABRSM Scholarship). She has held organ scholarships at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle,

Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of th ...

and

Manchester Cathedral Manchester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, in Manchester, England, is the mother church Mother church or matrice is a term depicting the Christian Church as a mother ...

, and was Assistant Organist at

Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge St Mary the Great is a Church of England parish and university church at the north end of King's Parade in central Cambridge, England. It is known locally as Great St Mary's or simply GSM to distinguish it from " Little St Mary's". It is one of t ...

and Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral. At the age of 19, Massey 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 The Worshipful Company of Musicians is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Its history dates back to at least 1350. Originally a specialist guild for musicians, its role became an anachronism in the 18th century, when the centre of ...

, and the Musicians Benevolent Fund’s ''Ian Fleming Award''. Her many teachers and mentors included Frances Gibbs,

Jeremy Filsell Jeremiah Daniel Filsell (born 10 April 1964) is an English pianist, organist and composer who currently serves as director of music at Saint Thomas Church, New York City. Biography Having played piano and organ from a young age, Filsell wa ...

Kevin Bowyer Kevin John Bowyer (; born 9 January 1961) is an English organist, known for his prolific recording and recital career and his performances of modern and extremely difficult compositions. Biography Bowyer was born on 9 January 1961 in Southend-o ...

, David Goode, Darius Battiwalla and Andrew Fletcher, and she also participated in masterclasses with many other well known Concert Organists including Dame Gillian Weir, Harald Vogel, David Briggs,

Peter Hurford Peter John Hurford OBE (22 November 1930 – 3 March 2019) was a British organist and composer. Life Hurford was born in Minehead, Somerset, to Gladys Hurford (née James) and Hubert Hurford, a solicitor. He was educated at Blundell's School ...

and Naji Hakim. She was the repetiteur for the Windsor and Eton Choral Society under Ralph Allwood, and the Birmingham Bach Choir under Paul Spicer, and also taught for

Faculty of Music as a Supervisor in Keyboard Skills, Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue and Tonal Composition. Massey performs regularly as a recitalist throughout the UK. Her debut solo disc entitled ''Bravura!'' (on the Priory Records label) received excellent reviews: it was Editor’s Choice in ''Organists’ Review,'' and described as ‘a diverse and imaginative programme that is superbly played….a ‘must’ for all organ enthusiasts.’ Her second solo disc, "The Forgotten Gem - Francesca Massey plays The Organ of King's Lynn Minster" received excellent coverage, with a five star rating in Organists' Review: "Massey's playing of the early repertoire is particularly engaging however she is equally at home in the 20th century literature. This instrument is well worth hearing and this disc admirably reflects its quality and versatility." Massey has played throughout Europe and South Africa as an accompanist, as well as recording a number of acclaimed CDs with various choirs; ''Gramophone Magazine'' describing her as a ‘hugely gifted accompanist.’ She is the Assistant Musical Director of The Durham Singers, and is actively engaged as an organ teacher, having worked as a tutor on courses hosted by ''Oundle for Organists,'' the IAO and the

RSCM The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is a Christian music education organisation dedicated to the promotion of music in Christian worship, in particular the repertoire and traditions of Anglican church music, largely through publications, ...

amongst others. Massey also performs extensively as a continuo player and pianist. She is not related to the sometime Organist of Hereford Cathedral,

Roy Massey Roy Massey (born 10 September 1943) is an English former football player, now a coach. Career As a player, Massey played as a centre forward for Rotherham United (1964–67), Leyton Orient (1967–69) and Colchester United (1969–71). He reti ...

Personal life

Francesca Massey is married to the tenor David Booer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Massey, Francesca 1982 births Living people English organists Women organists Durham Cathedral Cathedral organists Alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 21st-century organists 21st-century English women musicians 21st-century British conductors (music) English choral conductors Women conductors (music)