Professor Ian Tracey

Our Tonal Director Professor Ian Tracey DL has a life-long association with Liverpool Cathedral and its music. Together with his two illustrious predecessors, Henry Goss-Custard and Noel Rawsthorne, he continues the tradition of an almost Apostolic Succession.

He studied at St. Katharine’s College, Liverpool and Trinity College, London, winning scholarships to study organ in Paris with Andre Isoir and Jean Langlais and conducting with the late Vernon Handley CBE.

He was appointed Organist of Liverpool Cathedral in 1980, since which time he has played most of the major venues in the UK, many of the prestigious organs in Europe and made 25 extensive tours of the USA and two of Australia.

He is Organist to the City of Liverpool and curator of the historic ‘Father’ Willis organ at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool where he plays monthly recitals and officiates at City functions. He is also Professor, Fellow and Organist at Liverpool, John Moores University, and Tonal Director for Church Organ World, and a past president of the Incorporated Association of Organists of Great Britain.

In addition to that from his Alma Mater, he holds Fellowships from many prestigious institutions, including the Royal College of Organists, Royal School of Church Music, Guild of Church Musicians and The Royal Society of Arts.

In 1994, he was awarded the North West Arts Award for Classical Music, and in 2006 The University of Liverpool conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Music, in recognition of his long and distinguished service to music in Liverpool and of his national and international reputation as a musician. He was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Merseyside in 2015.