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Sir David Lumsden RIP

27 February 2023
Submitted by dpj27@cam.ac.uk on 27 February 2023

We are deeply saddened by the death on February 25th of our honorary fellow Sir David Lumsden at the age of 94.

Sir David (SE 1948) was organ scholar at Selwyn during his undergraduate and MusB degrees. He went on to major posts at New College, Oxford, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. In 1982 he was appointed director of the Royal Academy of Music in London; he held that position until retirement in 1993, and was seen as a transformational leader. He was an organist, conductor, and harpsichordist, and a noted authority on Elizabethan lute music.

He was knighted in 1985 and, as well as his honorary fellowship at Selwyn, he held honorary degrees from several universities and conservatoires. David and his wife Sheila lived in Soham for many years, and he was a regular member of the congregation in chapel until they moved about 12 years ago to be near their son Andrew, director of music at Winchester Cathedral.

Sir David Lumsden 1928-2023, RIP.

Sir David Lumsden
Photo by Andrew Crowley