James Herbert Lazenby

James Herbert Lazenby, age 82, died at home September 14, 2024. Born and raised in the Utica area of upstate New York, he was the eldest son of the late Herbert and Beatrice (Brown) Lazenby.

James began his musical career as a treble chorister (for five years) in the Choir of Men & Boys at Grace Church, Utica. At the age of 15 he assumed his first organ position at a small Baptist church in North Utica, continuing through high school years. Upon graduation from Whitesboro Central School in 1960, James attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, graduating in 1964 with a degree in Music Education. Though a piano major at the college, he studied organ privately with Dr. George L. Jones, Jr., Organist at Trinity College, Potsdam, and served as his assistant for his four years as an undergraduate. He taught vocal music in Castleton-on-Hudson from 1964-67, and studied organ with Dr. Lloyd E. Cast, Jr., the Organist at the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, NY.

From 1967-69 James was a student at Union Theological Seminary, in New York and studied organ with Dr. Leonard Raver, Associate Organist at the then Chapel of the Intercession of Trinity Church, Wall Street. James received a Masters of Sacred Music with a major in organ.

From 1969-88 James served as Organist & Choirmaster at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Schenectady, NY, while also serving as conductor of the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society. For a short spell he served as Minister of Music at Trinity United Methodist Church on Capitol Hill in Albany, NY and taught briefly at Schenectady County Community College, before moving to North Carolina in 1990.

After a short tenure as interim-Director of Music at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, James was appointed organist at St. Benedict’s Anglican Church, where he has continued to serve as Organist for over 30 years. In addition to his musical endeavors at St. Benedict’s Church, he also served as Clerk of the Vestry for several years. During his time in North Carolina, James served as assistant conductor of The Choral Society in Durham and an assistant to the curator of organs at Duke University Chapel. Professionally, he was a member of the American Guild of Organists (since 1964) and the Association of Anglican Musicians (since 1970). 

Surviving are his brother, Robert George Lazenby and his wife, Carol, of Canandaigua, NY and Ocala, FL; his sister, Patricia Lazenby Smith and husband, Paul, of Salida, CO; three nephews and one niece, Aaron Baldwin Lazenby and his wife, Dana, of Fairport, NY; Brian Paul Smith and his wife, Jenny, of Gunnison, CO, Noel Robert Lazenby of Canandaigua NY; and Kari Smith Strothmann of Anderson, SC; and two grandnephews and a grandniece, Noah Lazenby, Kermani Strothmann and Jade Smith.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at St. Georges Episcopal Church, 30 N Ferry Street, Schenectady, NY 12305.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2024 at St. Benedict's Anglican Church, 870 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Gifts in James’ memory may be made to: Father Kirby Science Laboratory (of the Bishop Biggers High School, Likoma Istand, Northern Malawi). Checks should be made payable to: The Father Kirby Science Laboratory ℅ The Rev. Randolph J. Geminder, St. Mary’s Church, 175 Broadway, Amityville, New York 11701. Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne & Co., Durham, NC and Griswold Funeral Home, Schenectady, NY.