 He was director of music at Keele University, 1958–59, and professor of harmony at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), London, 1959–61.As a conductor, Lumsden was founder and conductor of the Nottingham Bach Society, 1954–59, and conducted the Oxford Harmonic Society, 1961–63, the Oxford Sinfonia, 1967–70, and the BBC Scottish Singers, 1977–80.As an organist and harpsichordist he was organist of the Sheldonian Theatre, 1964–76, choragus of Oxford University, 1968–72 and harpsichordist to the London Virtuosi, 1972–75, whose other players were principals of the London Symphony Orchestra.