Jack McCabe Appointed as new Cathedral Sub-Organist and Assistant Master of Music
Jack is a native of Northern Ireland, who first played the organ at Killinchy Parish Church, in Co Down. He was tutored, under the Down, Dromore and Connor Organ Scholarship Scheme, by Mr Michael McCracken, Organist of Down Cathedral.
On achieving top grades in his A Levels, Jack studied music at Cambridge University, where he was awarded organ scholarships at Queen’s College, and with the St John’s Voices. During his training at Cambridge, Jack studied organ with Jeremiah Stephenson, organist at All Saints’, Margaret Street in London, and was tutored in keyboard skills at Cambridge by Dr Francis Knights. With a particular love for the French organists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, including Franck, Duruflé, Guilmant and Dupre, Jack had the opportunity to participate in the Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies residential at Moulin Cathedral in France, under the tutelage of Alexis Droy.
Further opportunities were given to Jack as the organ accompanist for college tours to Como Cathedral in Italy and St Nichols’ Basilica in Amsterdam. Nearer to home, Jack also accompanied the notoriously demanding William Walton’s “The Twelve” at Queen’s College and on occasion, he took responsibility for leading services with the St John’s Voices at the Chapel of St John’s College.
Upon graduating, Jack was appointed organ scholar to Worcester Cathedral, under the guidance of their Director of Music, Samuel Hudson. Here Jack had particular responsibilities for the Voluntary Choir and for Friday Evening Choral Evensong at Worcester. Highlights for Jack from his year at Worcester Cathedral, included singing with the Three Choirs Festival Chorus for a week of concerts in Hereford Cathedral, accompanying the choristers for Handle’s Zadok the Priest, and deputizing for the Director of Music in a chorister trip to Llandaff Cathedral to sing for a television production of “Young Sherlock”!
In September 2025, Jack was appointed to the post of Organ Scholar at Peterborough Cathedral. Here, working under Chris Strange, Acting and now recently appointed Director of Music at Peterborough (to whom we send our heartfelt congratulations!), he had particular responsibility for training the probationer choristers learning the basics of music theory and liturgy. This demanded not only a high level of musical competence, but also a lively sense of fun. At Peterborough, Jack has had further responsibility for training the junior choristers.
In addition to his enthusiasm for French Organists, Jack also has a love for organist’s of the English Romantic School, including Elgar, Howells and Whitlock.
With a desire to return to Northern Ireland, Jack says of his appointment to Belfast Cathedral: “This opportunity is a dream come true. I am incredibly excited to join your team and to be a part of what will undoubtedly be an exciting time for the Cathedral Choir’s growth and development. I look forward to being an integral member of your Music Department, providing for the spiritual and cultural life of the Cathedral, as well as the City of Belfast.”
Jack Wilson, Organist and Master of Music said “I am delighted to welcome Jack to Belfast Cathedral, marking his return home to Northern Ireland. Already a fine musician, he brings with him a breadth of experience from previous institutions which will be of great value in this newly created post. Jack will be a significant asset to the Cathedral’s music department, and I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead!”
The Dean of Belfast, Stephen Forde added, “We are extremely pleased at the appointment of Jack McCabe as Sub Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Belfast Cathedral. Jack returns to his home in Northern Ireland with a wide range of experiences and musical training from college and cathedral life in England and abroad. He also displays an ability to tackle any musical challenge with calm determination and a high level of musical accomplishment, allied to an engaging humour and ability to get on with others. I believe, working closely with our Master of Music and Cathedral Organist, Jack Wilson, and with our cathedral choir and the growing number of cathedral choristers, we can expect a time of musical consolidation and growth at St Anne’s Cathedral. With these two most able cathedral musicians, I trust we can look forward to an exciting future for our music at Belfast Cathedral.”
