About Carl

Carl Grainger started playing the piano at the age of 12, studying with Tom Bromley. He read music at the University of East Anglia where his instrumental tutors included the well-known harpsichordist Sir Philip Ledger and David Parkhouse, pianist of The Music Group of London. He also studied with the respected concert organist David Sanger. He was appointed as Director of Music of the important Princes Street Church in Norwich, and subsequently served as Organist and Choirmaster of Beccles Parish Church in Suffolk, St James’ Shere and St Saviour’s Church in Guildford.

The harpsichord was played superbly by Carl Grainger.

The Western Mail

Carl is well known as an organ recitalist and has performed widely throughout England and Wales. Recent UK recitals have included Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, Chester, Brecon, Llandaff and Portsmouth Cathedrals, Kings Lynn Minster, Shrewsbury Abbey and St Mary’s Swansea. He has appeared overseas, including performances in Spain, Italy and a Norwegian tour that culminated in a recital to an audience of 500 in Trondheim Cathedral.
In France he has recently given recitals in the churches of Saint-Aigulin, Saint-Astier and Moëze. He has appeared four times in the Charente International Organ Festival and, in 2024, he founded a series of market day concerts in the town of Barbezieux, featuring the 1890 organ built by Gaston Maille.

Bach performed with panache, particularly in the complex figurations of the first movement.

Seen and Heard International

Performing regularly as a harpsichordist, Carl has appeared on S4C television with the Chamber Orchestra of Wales. For several years he was the harpsichordist of the Welsh Sinfonia, giving critically-acclaimed  performances of concertos by Bach, Handel, Albinoni and John Rutter.

Carl Grainger’s excellent account of Franck’s Second Choral had all the space it needed. His excellent use of the Chester organ guaranteed all the warmth and sonority that this superb work requires.

Philip Rushforth – Director of Music, Chester Cathedr

Carl also directed the Welsh Sinfonia Chamber Choir, with which he conducted performances of the German Requiem and Marienlieder by Brahms, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, the Requiem by Giovanni Anerio and twentieth century music by Gustav Holst, Benjamin Britten and Henryk Górecki.
In 2009 Carl formed the St Donats Chorale in South Wales, which he conducted for nine years, including performances of Bach’s St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Carl Grainger is an organist who clearly knows his business.

Eastern Daily Press

Carl has lived in South France since 2019 and directs the choir of his adopted town in the Charente, but he returns regularly to the UK to perform.