Andrew Lucas (Music Director of the St Albans Bach Choir since 1998) is Master of the Music at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, after having been Sub-Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, London:place>:City> for eight years. :p>

:p>Born in Wellington:City>, Shropshire:place> in 1958, Andrew studied organ at the Royal College of Music with John Birch, and composition with Herbert Howells. He graduated with a BMus from the University:PlaceType> of London:PlaceName>:place> and continued his organ studies after college with Peter Hurford. The award of the W T Best Scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Musicians then enabled him to study with Piet Kee at the Sweelinck Conservatoire, Amsterdam:place>:City>.:p>

Andrew has been Director of Music of St James' Church, Sussex:PlaceName> Gardens:PlaceType>, London:City>, and later of St Vedast-alias-Foster in the City of London:place>:City>. His career at St Paul:place>:City>'s Cathedral began in 1980 (as organ student) and he became subsequently Assistant Sub-Organist (1985) and Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music (1990–1998). In his time at St Paul:City>’s he made over 25 commercial recordings with the Cathedral Choir and a soloist for the Hyperion, Naxos:place> and Mirabilis labels.:p>

As an organ soloist he plays concerts throughout the UK:country-region> and has given recitals in Norway:country-region>, Sweden:country-region>, Belgium:country-region>, Germany:country-region>, France:country-region>, Italy:country-region>, the Netherlands:country-region>, Australia:country-region>, Bermuda and the USA:place>:country-region>. In 1997 he spent three months on sabbatical as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney:City>, Australia:country-region>:place>.:p>

As conductor, Andrew has been Chorus Master of the London Concert Choir, assistant conductor of the City of London Choir and deputy chorus master for Laszlo Heltay with the Royal Choral Society, the Brighton Festival Chorus and the Academy of St Martin's-in-the-Fields Chorus and for David Hill with the Philharmonia Chorus. More recently he directed the annual Choir Directors’ Course at St Thomas:PlaceName> Church:PlaceType>:place>, Fifth Avenue:address>:Street>, NYC in 2007. :p>

Since Andrew took up his position as Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral, the Cathedral Choir has toured Sweden, France (twice), The Netherlands, Rome and the Eastern seaboard of the USA, made several broadcasts (including Choral Evensong on Radio 3 and morning service on both BBC and ITV) and sung at the late Queen Mother's 100th birthday celebrations. A recording of Stanford's Bible Songs was released, to critical acclaim, in 2000 on the Priory label and one of Christmas music on the Lammas label in 2001. A CD of German Romantic choral works was issued in 2005. He was Artistic Director of the St Albans International Organ Festival from 1999 to 2007, directing four festivals in all. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians in 2006.:p>