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Organ recital on 23rd September, 7.30pm, Main Hall, admission free

Given by Francesca Massey, Assistant Director of Music, Peterborough Cathedral

The Hill, Norman and Beard organ in the Main Hall of Bedford High School is a remarkable instrument, given its small dimensions. It was built in 1898 at the instigation of Marion Belcher, Headmistress from 1883-1898 and designed by the then Director of Music, Dr Harry Harding, who was also Secretary of the Royal College of Organists. Miss Belcher hoped that ‘its sweet and solemn tones will blend the prayers and praises of childlike hearts and voices for many generations yet to come'.

There have been many additions to the original instrument with the result that it has a dynamic range and variety of timbre typical of a much larger organ and as such is an ideal recital instrument. It is still regularly used for assemblies and, hopefully, has fulfilled Miss Belcher's wishes.

Francesca Massey is an outstanding young organist who has achieved considerable prominence in the field of cathedral music. She took up the post of Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral in September 2007. She was educated at Cambridge University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she held an ABRSM Scholarship, graduated with distinction and won the College's Organ Recital Prize. Francesca has held Organ Scholar posts at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle (also acting as Assistant Organist for one term), Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and Manchester Cathedral. In addition she has been Acting Precentor at Caius College and Assistant Organist at Great St. Mary's Church, Cambridge, as well as teaching for the University's Faculty of Music.

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 has recorded a number of acclaimed CDs. Francesca has worked as a tutor on a number of courses hosted by Oundle for Organists and the RSCM.