Background
Massey, Roy Cyril was born on May 9, 1934 in Birmingham, Warwickshr, United Kingdom. Son of Cyril Charles and Beatrice May Morgan Massey.
Massey, Roy Cyril was born on May 9, 1934 in Birmingham, Warwickshr, United Kingdom. Son of Cyril Charles and Beatrice May Morgan Massey.
He took the Birmingham degree of Bachelor of Music and holds the diplomas of Fellow of the Royal College of Organists(CHM), and ADCM.
He was organist of Street Alban-the-Martyr, Bordesley, Birmingham (1953–1960) and Street Augustine"s Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham (1960–1965). He became warden of the Royal School of Church Music (1965–1968) as well as organist of Croydon Parish Church. From 1968-1974 he was organist of Birmingham Cathedral and director of music at King Edward"s School, Birmingham.
Massey was elected a fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM) in 1972 and in 1975 a fellow of Saint Michael"s College, Tenbury.
From 1974 to 2001 he was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Hereford Cathedral. During his time at Hereford, he was nine times conductor-in-chief of the Three Choirs Festival, where he commissioned and conducted the premieres of several works by British composers.
He was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music in 1990 and appointed Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1997. Following his retirement in 2001, Massey became president of the Royal College of Organists (2003–2005).
He remains active as a concert organist, and gave the opening recital on the newly-rebuilt organ at Hereford Cathedral in 2005.
His arrangement of a Ukrainian melody, "Long the night", was published in the carol anthology Noel! published by Novello in 2000.
Fellow Royal College of Organists, Royal School of Church Music. Member Royal College of Music (associate).
Married Ruth Carol Craddock Grove, February 22, 1975.