Prof Ian Tracey to Retire After 46 Years as Liverpool Cathedral Organist
Prof Ian Tracey is set to retire as the full-time organist of Liverpool Cathedral after 46 years, with a special recital planned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the cathedral's grand organ.
The recital, scheduled for October 17, is part of a month-long celebration that includes an exhibition titled Organ 100, highlighting the organ's history and its significance to the city. Tracey, who began his tenure in 1980 as the youngest cathedral organist in the UK, has had a distinguished career, also serving as Liverpool city organist and a professor at Liverpool John Moores University.
Tracey expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play the grand organ, which features 222 stops and 11,000 pipes. The Dean of Liverpool, Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones, acknowledged Tracey's impact on the cathedral and the community, noting his legacy as a musician and mentor. Although retiring from his full-time position, Tracey plans to continue performing at St. George's Hall and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
