David Lumsden

Sir David James Lumsden (19 March 1928 – 25 February 2023) was a British musical educator, conservatoire-chief, conductor, choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist. After studying music at Cambridge he was a church organist, and later an academic. He was principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow from 1976 to 1982 and of the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1982 to 1993.

Life and career Lumsden was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 March 1928. He was educated at Dame Allan's School in Newcastle, and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar from 1948 to 1951.

After leaving Cambridge, Lumsden held a succession of church appointments. He was assistant organist of St John's College, Cambridge, 1951–53; organist and choirmaster, St Mary's Church, Nottingham, and, piano teacher in Nottingham, 1954–56; and director of music and rector chori, Southwell Minster, 1956–59.

Following his church career, Lumsden became fellow, organist and choirmaster of New College, Oxford and a lecturer in the faculty of music, University of Oxford 1959–76; the BBC abandoned its plan to disband the orchestra.

Lumsden was appointed to succeed Sir Anthony Lewis as principal of the RAM from August 1982. He caused controversy in 1988 by what Nicholas Kenyon called "plans to create a high level conservatory … for soloists on the model of the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia", cutting the academy's total number of students. Kenyon added that "the plan caused a huge row with the other music colleges", which felt that this was an attempt to benefit the Academy at their expense. Andrew Lumsden (director of music at Winchester Cathedral) and Stephen Lumsden (founder and chief executive of the international classical music agency Intermusica), and two daughters; Jane, an academic (who married the organist John Scott), and their eldest child Jennifer, a medic.

Sheila Lumsden died on 8 August 2022. Lumsden died on 25 February 2023 at the age of 94. His four children survive him.

Honours and awards Lumsden was knighted in 1985 and received honorary fellowships, memberships or degrees from Selwyn College, Cambridge, the Royal College of Organists (1976); the RAM (1978); the Royal College of Music (1980); the Royal Northern College of Music (1981); the RSAMD (1982); the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1984); the Royal Society of Musicians (1984); the London College of Music (1985); the Royal Society of Arts (1985); the Royal School of Church Music (1987); Trinity College, London (1988); the University of Reading (1990); and King's College, London (1991). The Music Centre of his old school, Dame Allan's School, Newcastle upon Tyne is called the Lumsden Centre in his honour.

Publications Lumsden published two books: An Anthology of English Lute Music, 1954; and Thomas Robinson’s Schoole of Musicke, 1603, 1971. He contributed articles to publications including The Listener; The Score; Music & Letters; the Galpin Society Journal; La Luth et sa Musique; and La Musique de la Renaissance.