Alex to play concert swansong

The assistant organist at Lichfield Cathedral will be playing for the final time next month before heading off to pastures new.

Alex Mason will be performing his last organ recital as part of the 2007 Organ Recital Series in the cathedral on May 8.

Mr Mason was due to perform his recital in September, but it has been brought forward to next month as in September he will take up his new post of Organist and Master of the Choristers at St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire.

Mr Mason will also be the artistic director of the St David's Cathedral Festival, and his musical programme on May 8 will include works by Elgar, Bach, Reger and Debussy.

"I will miss Lichfield and the cathedral very much indeed but am looking forward to the fantastic opportunities at St David's," said Mr Mason.

As already announced David Briggs, the internationally renowned concert organist, will also be taking part in this year's recital series. He will be performing a Silent Movie Improvisation from The Hunchback of Notre-Dame on June 12.

The organ recital series was launched in 2000 after a huge restoration programme to the cathedral organ was carried out, and it has continued to go from strength to strength.

The full recital programme is Alex Mason on May 8; David Briggs on June 12 and Philip Scriven, organist and master of the choristers at Lichfield Cathedral on September 11.