James Lockhart (music director)

James Lockhart (born 16 October 1930) is a Scottish conductor, pianist and organist who served as music director for a number of organisations.

Lockhart was born on 16 October 1930 in Edinburgh[1] and studied at the Royal College of Music.[1] In March 1954 he gave the first UK performance of Frank Martin's Sonata da Chiesa for Viola d'Amore and Organ at All Souls Church, Langham Place with the violist Harry Danks.[2] He worked as a répétiteur (singing coach) at the Städtische Bühnen Münster, Germany from 1955 to 1956.[1] He was music director at Welsh National Opera from 1968 to 1972,[1] and at the opera of the Staatstheater Kassel from 1972 to 1978 — the first British born person to hold that position with a German opera.[1] He was the Royal College of Music's director of opera from 1986 to 1992.[1] He appeared as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 18 April 1970.[3]