Ralph William Downes CBE (16 August 1904 – 24 December 1993) was an English organist, organ designer, teacher and music director and was Professor of Organ in the Royal College of Music. Downes was born in Derby and studied at the Royal College of Music from 1922 to 1923 under Walter Alcock, Henry Ley, and Edgar Cook.He was then assistant organist at Southwark Cathedral from 1923 until 1925, before moving to Keble College, Oxford (where he was also Organ Scholar to continue his education (1925 to 1928). He was then musical director and organist of the new chapel at Princeton University between 1928 and 1935, before returning to London.