Bruce Grindlay (born 1967) is a British organist, conductor, teacher and was previously the Headmaster at

Sutton Valence School Sutton Valence School (SVS) is an independent school near Maidstone in southeast England. It has 560 pupils. It is a co-educational day and boarding school. There are three senior boarding houses: Westminster, St Margaret's and Sutton. History ...

. Grindlay finished his schooling in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and studied at the

Royal Canadian College of Organists The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), founded in 1909, is a national association of organists and church musicians in Canada, with 28 centres from Victoria, British Columbia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The National Office is ...

as well as the

Royal Conservatory of Music The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), branded as The Royal Conservatory, is a non-profit music education institution and performance venue headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1886 by Edward Fisher (musician), Edward ...

and the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

. In 1988, Grindlay took up an organ scholarship at

Emmanuel College, Cambridge Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. The site on which the college sits was once a priory for Dominican mon ...

and studied with

Peter Hurford Peter John Hurford OBE (22 November 1930 – 3 March 2019) was a British organist and composer. Life Hurford was born in Minehead, Somerset, to Gladys Hurford (née James) and Hubert Hurford, a solicitor. He was educated at Blundell's School ...

. After graduating, Grindlay gained a

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of prescr ...

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, specialising in organ performance and

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

. Grindlay was Head of Chapel Music and a housemaster at

Bedford School :''Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Girls' School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Old Bedford School in Bedford, Texas or Bedford Academy in Bedford, Nova Scotia.'' Bedford School is a public school (English indep ...

from 1994 until 2001 where he took up the post of

Director of Music A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the di ...

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. The school was founded in 1552 and received its first royal charter in 1553 ...

. As of July 2009, he has left to become Headmaster of

. As well as being Director of Music, Bruce is a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of the

Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and de ...

, Chairman of the Music Masters' and Mistresses' Association academic sub-committee, a member of the government's National Music Education Forum and on the music advisory board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. He frequently conducts different choirs, including Christ's Hospital's Schola Cantorum. He has given organ recitals across the country in festivals and cathedrals. He has broadcast on both English and Canadian radio and has made several recordings.Bruce Grindlay - Music Director, Esterházy Chamber Choir
Grindlay has arranged many hymns especially for

. Grindlay is married to his wife, Lilla who is Head of English at The King’s School, Canterbury and the author of the academic book Queen of Heaven. They have two children, Jessica and Samuel.

References

External links

Choir WebsiteChrist's Hospital WebsiteAppointment of Bruce Grindlay as Headmaster
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grindlay, Bruce Christ's Hospital staff British composers English conductors (music) British male conductors (music) English organists British male organists Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University of British Columbia alumni 1967 births Living people English Christians British expatriates in Canada Heads of schools in England 21st-century British conductors (music) 21st-century organists 21st-century British male musicians