At Durham he takes responsibility for the cathedral's musical ministry, the centuries-old tradition of music at the centre of cathedral worship, which naturally takes most of his working time and energy. At its heart are the services sung daily  in term-time by the cathedral choir. James is responsible for the choir's  training, as well as that of the Consort of Singers, established in 1997. He has taken the cathedral choir on tour to Holland, Scandinavia,Germany, Brazil and the USA, and with them worked with the Northern Sinfonia, the London Festival Orchestra, theYorkshire Baroque Soloists, the BT Scottish Ensemble, and BBC Philharmonic, and Stan Tracey and his orchestra. In 2005, together with the cathedral choirs of St.Albans and Winchester, the choir took part in the St.Albans International Organ Festival, . The choir has also recorded  for Priory and made numerous broadcasts. James is also conductor of the Durham University Choral Society. 

In addition, James is much in demand as a recitalist in Britain and abroad. Recent years have seen visits to Holland, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Denmark, the USA, France, Russia, Norway and Sweden, as well as many British venues.  Sabbatical leave from the Cathedral in 2006 will enable him to fulfil further engagements in Europe and the USA. There are several recordings available. As well as those previously on sale, including Vierne and Alain works, his recording of the complete organ works of Hubert Parry on the Durham Cathedral organ was a Gramophone Critics' Choice in 2000. His most recent CD is a recording of Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur and L'Ascension. 

James Lancelot is the immediate past-president of the Cathedral Organists Association, and in 2002 became a Lay Canon of Durham Cathedral, also receiving an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians. 
James has been a member of the Royal College of Organists Council since 1988, and most recently of its Executive and Library Committees. 

He can be contacted by E-mail: James@Lancelot.fsworld.co.uk, 
by fax 0191-386-4267, or by traditional post at: 6 The College, Durham DH1 3EQ. 

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Forthcoming appearances:

Tuesday 8 April at 8.00 p.m.: St Lawrence’s Church, Alton, Hants.
Thursday 17 April at 7.30 p.m.: Christ Church, Jarrow Grange
Wednesday 4 June at 12.30 p.m.: Hull City Hall
Wednesday 2 July, evening: St.Hilda's(?), Whitby  
Monday 14 July: lunchtime, Newcastle Cathedral
Wednesday 16 July at 8.00 p.m.: Durham Cathedral
Saturday 26 July at 4.00 p.m.: Ottobeuren Abbey
Thursday 14 August, evening: Wells Cathedral 
Friday 19 September at 7.30 p.m.: St George’s, Gateshead
Friday 3 October at 7.30 p.m.: Hetton Methodist Church
Wednesday 22 October at 7.30 p.m.: The Alexandra Palace

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.  Earlier this year he spent a term as Acting Organist, whilst the Cathedral Organist, James Lancelot, was away on sabbatical leave, and also took over the conductorship of  Durham University Choral Society for a performance of Brahms’ Requiem.

He is in demand throughout the region as a performer, and plays from time to time with Northern Sinfonia, both as a harmoniumist  and as an organist, and with the Sinfonia’s 20th-century ensemble: Vaganza.  Away from the Cathedral he conducts a chamber choir, Palatinate Voices, and directs a period-instrument orchestra, Durham Baroque.  He is a part-time member of staff in the Music Department at Durham University, teaching both Conducting and Techniques of Composition.  He has a particular interest in Tudor church music, and in the performance of the repertoire of this period: he has prepared a number of editions for use with the Early English Organ Project instruments, and is currently enjoying a period of study leave researching amongst the 17th-century manuscripts in the Durham Chapter Library and elsewhere.

Keith's former passion for cycling has inevitably waned, and now, when not involved with musical activities, he enjoys a busy family life with wife Kate and three growing sons. 

Keith can be contacted via E-mail: Sub.Organist@durhamcathedral.co.uk 
by fax 0191-386-4267, even by post at:  8 The College, Durham DH1 3EQ 

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