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Cathedral appoints director of music, funded by £600,000 bequest

A director of music has been appointed at St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen, thanks to a bequest of £600,000.

The money was left to St Machar's in the will of James Lobban, a former organist and master of choristers at the cath- edral, who requested his gift be put towards musical development.

It is a fitting legacy for a man who was said to have music breathing through every pore of his body and who left an estate worth £1,036,011.

The retired music teacher also bequeathed money to a Bach society, three charities and £10,000 to Aberdeen Grammar School Former Pupils' Club.

Mr Lobban, who lived in Mileend Avenue, Aber- deen, died in September. He was 64.

He specified in his will that the cathedral's share was to be used for the support and development of music.

The cathedral's kirk session has now appointed Michael Thomson as director of music.

His tasks will include developing the range of concerts and recitals at the cathedral, which was founded around 580AD.

Aberdeen-born Mr Thomson, 58, of Edzell Woods, Brechin, was the cathedral's assistant organist from 1981 to 2006, and spent 27 years working in the libraries department of Aberdeen City Council, where he specialised in music.

Full story at the Aberdeen Press & Journal.