George Charles Gray (1897–1981) was an English cathedral organist, who served in

Leicester Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Saint Martin, Leicester, commonly known as Leicester Cathedral, is a Church of England cathedral in Leicester, England and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester. The church was elevated to a collegiate church in 192 ...

Background

Gray was born on 7 October 1897 in Nutfield. He was educated at

Rotherham Grammar School (Lest We Should Seem Ungrateful) , established = , closed = , type = Grammar school, becoming County school , religious_affiliation = , president = , head_label = Headmaste ...

. He saw military service in World War I. He was a pupil of Edward Bairstow at the same time as

Gerald Finzi Gerald Raphael Finzi (14 July 1901 – 27 September 1956) was a British composer. Finzi is best known as a choral composer, but also wrote in other genres. Large-scale compositions by Finzi include the cantata '' Dies natalis'' for solo voice and ...

.Gerald Finzi: his life and music. Diana M. McVeagh In 1928 he gained a B Mus degree from Durham. He lectured at Leicester University (1931–1946) and at the Leicester College of Education (1945–1976). He was awarded an honorary M Mus degree by Leicester University in 1968 and a Lambeth D Mus degree in 1969. At Leicester, one of his pupils was

Stanley Vann William Stanley Vann D.Mus Hon FTCL FRCO ARCM (15 February 1910 – 27 March 2010) was an English composer, organist, choral conductor, and choir trainer, primarily in the Anglican cathedral tradition. Early life Born in Leicester, he star ...

, later organist of

Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Pau ...

. Other pupils of his included Harold Dexter and Jonathan Gregory, the latter becoming cathedral organist at St Anne's cathedral, Belfast. He died at Leicester on 24 March 1981.

Career

Organist of: *

St Michael le Belfrey, York St Michael le Belfrey is an Anglican church in York, England. It is situated at the junction of High Petergate and Minster Yard, directly opposite York Minster, in the centre of the city. History The present church building was built between ...

(1920–1922) *St. Martin's Church, Leeds (1922–1923) * Alnwick Parish Church (1923–1926) * St. Mary le Tower, Ipswich (1926–1930) *

(1931–1969)

References

1897 births 1981 deaths English classical organists British male organists Cathedral organists 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century English musicians 20th-century organists 20th-century British male musicians People educated at Rotherham Grammar School Male classical organists {{organist-stub