Introducing the new Provincial Grand Organist – W. Bro James Mooney-Dutton
Part of our masonic experience is the music in the Temple. The Opening and Closing Odes as well as the National Anthem are never quite the same without Organ accompaniment. The same applies to our Provincial Annual Meeting and Thanksgiving Service where the tones of the Grand Organ add a majesty to the occasion. The Province of Middlesex is fortunate to have such a well respected Organist with a magnificent Organ pedigree which adds lustre to our assemblies.
James Mooney-Dutton is an accomplished Organist and has an interesting musical career which started in his parish church of St Giles, Ickenham. He was recommended at 8 years old to become a Chorister at Westminster Abbey where he sang as a boy treble until his voice broke. He sang at the funeral of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Afterwards he was then consigned to assist in the Organ loft where his interest in the Grand Organ developed. Subsequently he won a music scholarship to Harrow School. Academically James was awarded a BMus (Bachelor of Music) at the Royal College of Music in Kensington and has held Organ scholarships at Norwich Cathedral and St Martins in the Fields.
His career as a recitalist has included performances at St James’s Cathedral, Toronto, Canada, Magdalen College Oxford, Norwich Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral, at Andrew’s Hall Norwich and Queen’s College, Oxford. James has his own business as James Funeral Service based in Harrow and also in Wisbech Funeral Services, in Cambridgeshire.
James was initiated into Greenford Lodge No 4909 in 2012 becoming Worshipful Master in 2016. He is also a member of his school Lodge Old Harrovians No 4653 which meets at Wax Chandler’s Hall in the City of London and there is one meeting a year held at the School in Harrow. Additionally, he is a member of Acacia Lodge No 3436. The Lodge is for those working in the Funeral Profession.
Those who were at the Provincial AGM on the 14th May will already have experienced the musical professionalism of W. Bro James as he sat in his loft away from our gaze. We, however, knew he was there by the music we heard and appreciated.
