St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Following in the footsteps of Edmund, King and Martyr
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday 10 July 2011
For immediate release
Organist moves to Peterborough
St Edmundsbury Cathedral is pleased to announce that David Humphreys, Assistant Director
of Music and Arts Co-ordinator, has been appointed as the Assistant Director of Music at
Peterborough Cathedral. David takes up his new role in October 2011.
David has been at St Edmundsbury Cathedral since September 2007, where his duties have
included not only playing the organ for many services, concerts and recitals, but also directing
the St Edmundsbury Singers, the Cathedrals’ ladies choir, organising a varied programme of
concerts and co-ordinating the Cathedral’s arts programme. He has accompanied and
directed the cathedral choirs live on BBC Radio 3 and on several European tours, and played
for the Queen at the 2009 Office for the Royal Maundy.
During his time at the Cathedral, David has overseen the opening of the Edmund Gallery,
now an established art gallery, much loved by local artists and visitors. Along with James
Thomas, Director of Music, David has been key to the implementation of the organ project in
2010 which saw the complete refurbishment of the Cathedral organ. The popular Friday
lunchtime recital series is another legacy of David’s initiative.
‘David has been instrumental in developing the Cathedral’s music and arts programme over
recent years,’ comments the Very Reverend Dr Frances, Ward, Dean of St Edmundsbury.
‘We wish him well as he moves to the challenges of a larger cathedral, where I am sure that
his considerable talent will be well used and stretched.’
David Humphreys was born in Hertfordshire in 1983 and attended St Albans School. He spent
a gap year at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with David Titterington and holding the
organ scholarship at All Saints Margaret Street. Gaining a First in his final exams, he spent
the following year as Organ Scholar at St Albans Abbey. He then went up to Jesus College,
Cambridge as organ scholar, where he accompanied and directed the two chapel choirs,
undertook three European tours and appeared on BBC television.
Upon graduating with a degree in music in June 2007, winning the college's Renfrew Music
Prize, David was appointed Assistant Director of Music & Arts Coordinator at St Edmundsbury
Cathedral. Away from cathedral music, David has played both cello and organ at many of the
top venues in the United Kingdom and performed concertos for both instruments. He directed
two successful concerts with the Phoenix Singers (Framlingham), and has played continuo for
the Britten Sinfonia and the City of London Sinfonia. Recent organ recitals include
Westminster Abbey, King's College, Cambridge, and an appearance at the Buxton Festival.
He was made a fellow of the Royal College of Organists in January 2006, and currently
studies organ with Thomas Trotter.
*************************************************ENDS**************************************************
Sarah Friswell, Public Relations Manager
The Cathedral Office, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1LS
Telephone: 01284 748726 Fax: 01284 768655 Email: pr.manager@stedscathedral.org
www.stedscathedral.co.uk