Francis Jackson

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Francis Alan Jackson OBE (born October 2, 1917) is a British organist and composer.

Jackson was born in Malton, Yorkshire. Organist of York Minster from 1946 until his retirement in 1982, he played for the wedding of Elizabeth II's cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent to Katherine Worsley on June 8, 1961.

As well as having given recitals all over the world, Jackson has made numerous recordings of solo organ music, and of choral music with York Minster Choir. His extensive output of sacred and secular music includes canticles, anthems, hymn tunes (including East Acklam), organ sonatas and other organ pieces, monodramas, a concerto, a symphony, and solo songs. He is also the author of a biography of his teacher, mentor, and predecessor Sir Edward Bairstow entitled Blessed City: The Life and Works of Sir Edward C. Bairstow.

[edit] Key Events

• 1929-1933 Chorister of York Minster under Edward Bairstow
• 1933-1940 Organist of Malton Parish Church
• 1937 Gains FRCO with the Limpus Prize
• 1946-1982 Organist of York Minster
• 1957 Gains DMus Durham University
• 1970 Becomes Fellow of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey
• 1972-1974 President of the Royal College of Organists
• 1973 Appointed OBE for services to music.
• 1982 On retiring from York Minster in 1982 he received the Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, the Doctorate of The University of York and, at the hands of the Archbishop of York, Lord Blanch, the Order of Saint William of York.