Dr Simon Lindley (1948 – 2025) was a distinguished British organist, conductor, and composer, renowned for his contributions to choral and organ music. He was a key figure in the British classical music scene, particularly in Yorkshire, where he served as Organist & Master of the Music at Leeds Minster for over four decades. His influence extends through his work as a choral director, educator, and advocate for traditional church music.
Simon was born into a musical family. His father, Nicholas Lindley, was also an organist, and this strong musical heritage shaped Simon’s career path. He was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied music and was an organ scholar. Simon honed his skills further under the guidance of renowned organists and composers, which helped him develop his signature playing style marked by precision, expressiveness, and technical mastery.
Simon’s most notable role was his tenure at Leeds Parish Church (now Leeds Minster), where he was appointed in 1975. His work there cemented the church’s reputation as a center for exceptional choral and organ music. Under his leadership, the choir flourished, performing a diverse repertoire, including traditional Anglican chant, Renaissance polyphony, and contemporary compositions.
Beyond Leeds, Simon has held numerous prestigious posts, including:
• Leeds City Organist, responsible for performances on the historic Leeds Town Hall organ.
• Senior Tutor at Leeds College of Music, where he mentored young musicians.
• President of the Royal College of Organists, a testament to his standing in the field.
Simon was highly active as a choral conductor. He served as Music Director of St Peter’s Singers of Leeds, a choir he co-founded in 1977, which became one of the region’s leading ensembles. Under his direction, the choir performed regularly at major venues and recorded acclaimed albums, featuring works by Bach, Handel, Stanford, and Howells.
He also conducted various other ensembles, including:
• Leeds Philharmonic Society, one of the UK’s oldest choral societies.
• Sheffield Bach Choir, where he promoted high-caliber performances of Baroque and Classical music.
His passion for choral singing extended into community engagement, working with amateur and professional singers to elevate the standard of choral music in Yorkshire and beyond.
Simon has left an enduring legacy in British church music. His commitment to maintaining high musical standards, combined with his engaging personality, made him a beloved figure in the field. His organ recitals were widely admired for their expressiveness and technical brilliance, particularly in works by J S Bach, Widor, and Howells.
Throughout his career, he received multiple honours, including honorary fellowships from prestigious music institutions. His influence can still be felt in the many musicians he mentored and the choirs he shaped.
Dr Lindley retired from full-time church music in 2020, but his recordings, compositions, and impact on the British organ and choral scene ensure his legacy endures.
Keith Harrington commented: “I had heard Simon play on several occasions including at the formal opening of the Makin Organs new showroom and headquarters in Shaw in 2001 when I was a customer and he was the invited recitalist playing the Makin Sovereign 3-42 which I had rcently purchased and a stunning Makin chamber organ with pipe facade. Having taken over the post of MD at Makin in 2004, I met Simon professionally in 2005 when I was introduced to him by my predecessor David Clegg. Thanks to his skills as a musician and a manager by then he was a fully adopted son of Yorkshire.
Later that year, celebrating 35 years in business, we introduced the Makin Jubilee 2-35 organ which was designed in close collaboration with him. Shortly afterwards we started what was to be a ten-year collaboration with a series of organ battles at Leeds Parish church with organists from the Parish church, always including Simon and David Houlder with visitors from Liverpool always including Professor Ian Tracey and Dan Bishop. It was Simon who introduced me to my now good friend and colleague Ian Tracey. These friendly battles raised over £45,000 for the music department at the parish church and introduced so many customers to the Makin sound with the numerous instruments that we then sold.”
Keith continued “Both John and I have so many very fond memories of these splendid evenings which always involved full choral evensong, a simply wonderful high tea from the infamous ladies of the vestry and then the concert. Back then, John was at school and simply jumped on a train across the Pennines to make the event and to be well fed by the ladies. Usually in his white dinner jacket, I recall one evening when the James Bond theme was played by the ensemble with Simon, suitable glass in hand, being ‘Lindley, Simon Lindley agent 0113”.
All good things come to an end, and after ten years we held the last battle.
It is perhaps a year or so ago that I last saw Simon when he was on form with his wit, humour and repartee but it was clear that he was not a well man.”
