Background
Jackson was born in Malton, Yorkshire and received his early education as a chorister at York Minster under his predecessor, Sir Edward Bairstow.
Jackson was born in Malton, Yorkshire and received his early education as a chorister at York Minster under his predecessor, Sir Edward Bairstow.
York Minster Choir School and with Sir Edw"ard Bairstow.
He was the organist and director of music at York Minster for 36 years. He was appointed organist and director of music at York Minster in 1946 and held these positions until his retirement in 1982. The final voluntary was the final movement of Charles-Marie Widor"s Symphony Number.
5 for organ: Toccata, which set a fashion for the use of this piece for weddings.
Both nationally and internationally acclaimed, Jackson has given recitals and concerts all over the world, and made numerous recordings of solo organ music and of choral music with the choir of York Minster. Jackson"s extensive output of sacred and secular music includes canticles, anthems, hymn tunes (including the widely sung "East Acklam"), organ sonatas and other organ pieces such as "Diversion for Mixtures", two acclaimed monodramas - Daniel in Babylon and A Time of Fire, an overture, Brigantia, a concerto, a symphony, and solo songs.
Jackson"s creative output has continued since his retirement. Jackson is also the author of a biography of his teacher, mentor and predecessor, Sir Edward Bairstow, entitled Blessed City: The Life and Works of Sir Edward C. Bairstow.
His autobiography, Music Foreign A Long While, was published in 2013.
1929-1933: Chorister of York Minster under Edward Bairstow
1933-1940: Organist of Malton Parish Church
1937: Gains Fellow of the Royal College of Organists with the Limpus Prize
1946-1982: Organist of York Minster
1957: Gains Doctor of Music Durham University
1970: Becomes Fellow of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey
1972-1974: President of the Royal College of Organists
1978: Appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to music 1982: On retiring from York Minster in 1982 he received the Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, the Doctorate of the University of York and, at the hands of the Archbishop of York, Lord Blanch, the Order of Saint William of New York 2007: Promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen"s birthday honours for services to music
2012: Received the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music (Cantuar) from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Married Priscilla Procter in 1950.