Adrian Lucas

Adrian Lucas is an English conductor and organist. He is artistic director of the Worcester Three Choirs Festival.

He became organist and director of music at Worcester Cathedral in 1996. He is also conductor of the Worcester Festival Choral Society and musical director of the City of Birmingham Choir. Previously he had been assistant organist at Norwich Cathedral (1983–90) before becoming organist and master of the choristers at Portsmouth Cathedral (1990–96). In April 2011 he announced his intention to retire from Cathedral music in order to set up his own recording company.

Lucas was born in Essex in 1962 and graduated from St John's College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar from 1980 to 1983 under Dr George Guest. During this time he toured regularly with the Chapel Choir in France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Greece, and Australia. He also recorded a number of discs whilst at St Johns including repertoire by Allegri, Gibbons, and Titelouze.^{[citation needed]}

Whilst at Norwich, he taught piano and organ for the University of East Anglia and was a member of the music staff at both Norwich High School and Norwich School. He was musical director of the Wymondham Choir (a 50-strong freelance choir of men and boys) with whom he toured, performing in many English cathedrals as well as a concert tour in and around Koblenz in Germany. He also co-presented the radio programme Norfolk Arts for the local radio station BBC Radio Norfolk.

During his time at Portsmouth, he was responsible for the building of the new Nicholson & Co (Worcester) Ltd organ (1994), as well as directing the cathedral choir in the drumhead service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. During this time, he also conducted the choir for numerous broadcasts on both TV and radio and recorded their first ever CD with Priory Records.^{[citation needed]}

Since moving to Worcester, he has made numerous recordings with the Cathedral Choir, as well as launching the Great Cathedral Organ series for Regent Records.^{[citation needed]} In 2008 a major project was completed when the new Kenneth Tickell organ came into service in the quire of the Cathedral. His first recording on the new instrument included the Julius Reubke Sonata and Louis Vierne's First Symphony.

Preceded by Donald Hunt

Master of the Choristers and Organist, Worcester Cathedral 1996–present

Succeeded by Incumbent

Sources

• Who's Who, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7136-8550-3.

External links

• Review: Adrian Lucas conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra in Holst's Planets Suite in Gloucester Cathedral
• Great Cathedral Anthems vol XII
• Worcester Cathedral
• Worcester Cathedral Choir on Boysoloist.com
• Kenneth Tickell Organs
• Three Choirs Festival
• City of Birmingham Choir
• Worcester Festival Choral Society
• Worcester Festival Choral Society reviews