Organist

Paul Carr

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About Paul

Organist | Recitalist | Choral Director | Accompanist
Organist
Birmingham
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Paul's concert schedule takes him all over the UK, where he has performed on many of the finest instruments. Engagements have included solo recitals at Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, St David's Hall Cardiff, Blenheim Palace, Victoria Hall Hanley, Kelvingrove Art Gallery Glasgow, Alexandra Palace London, Westminster Abbey, York Minster and many cathedrals and churches. He has performed often in Germany, in France he has played two recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris, and has performed many times in the USA including solo recitals at Washington National Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral New York City and an inaugural recital on Chicago's largest organ. Paul has also been the organist for choir tours to Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and the USA. He was President of the Birmingham Organists Association from 2008 until 2014 and serves on both the Worcestershire Organists Association's Committee and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association Committee. Paul is particularly noted for his eclectic programming, drawing on his extensive repertoire of organ literature and organ transcriptions. For thirty years he has given monthly organ recitals in the Midlands, now numbering over 300 recitals; these have included performances of major organ works in their entirety including the symphonies of Louis Vierne, the organ sonatas of Felix Mendelssohn and the six Trio Sonatas of J.S. Bach. Paul has worked extensively as choral accompanist, regularly accompanying choirs in cathedrals around the country. As a choral director he works with Selly Park Singers, and also prepared the specially-formed Black Country Music Educations Hubs Choir for the first night of the BBC Proms 2017 where they formed part of the BBC Proms Youth Choir to perform John Adams' Harmonium with BBC Symphony Chorus and BBC Symphony Orchestra. Paul was Director of Music at St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter in the city centre of Birmingham for 13 years from September 2003 and currently holds the posts of Musician in Residence at Holy Trinity Wordsley, Stourbridge; Artistic Director of the Thursday Live Organ Recital series at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham and Organist of St Bartholomew's Church, Penn in Wolverhampton.

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Musicianship
Genres:
Traditional church music, Christmas, Classical, Baroque, Contemporary classical, Early music, Renaissance, Film / TV music, Fanfare, Classical crossover, Musical theatre, Opera, Jazz, Ragtime, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Pop, Acoustic, Americana, French music, German music
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Concert, Wedding, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Corporate event
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Other skills:
Fluent sight-reader, Repetiteur, Fluent improviser, Instrumental teaching, Transcription, Accompanist
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Paul's Song list

Dieterich Buxtehude (c.1637–1707)
Präludium, Fuga und Ciacona in C
Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
Prelude and Fugue in F minor
Giovanni Morandi (1777-1856)
Bell Rondo (Arr. W.T. Best)
Pietro Alessandro Yon (1886–1943)
Toccatina for flute
Marco Enrico Bossi (1861–1925)
Scherzo in G minor
Flor Peeters (1903–1986)
Lied Symphony: Lied to the Flowers & Lied to the Sun
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Pièces de Fantaisie: Hymne au Soleil
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Prelude and Fugue in G
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Fantasie in F minor
David N. Johnson (1922-1987)
Trumpet Tune in A
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
Pavane
Joseph Bonnet (1884–1944)
Variations de Concert
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude and Fugue in E flat (St Anne) BWV 552
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Flötenuhrstücke
Frei Jacinto (1700-1750)
Toccata in D minor
Paul Spicer (b.1952)
Dreams of Derry
Léon Boëllmann (1862–1897)
Suite Gothique:
Introduction-Chorale; Menuet Gothique; Prière à Notre Dame; Toccata
William Mathias (1934-1992)
Processional
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Prelude and Fugue in C minor
Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
Venus – The Bringer of Peace from The Planets
Dieterich Buxtehude (c.1637–1707)
Präludium in G minor
Josef Rheinberger (1839–1901)
Sonata no 11: Cantilena
Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)
Symphony no 6: i Allegro
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
War March of the Priests
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C BWV 564
Roy Massey (b.1934)
Introduction and Passacaglia
Gordon Balch Nevin (1892-1943)
Will o’ the Wisp
Sir William Walton (1902-1983)
Coronation March 1937: Crown Imperial
Jean Langlais (1907–1991)
Incantation pour un jour Saint
Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
Choral et Fugue
Sir William Harris (1883-1973)
Fantasy on ‘Easter Hymn’
Simon Preston (b.1938)
Alleluyas
Healey Willan (1880-1968)
Chorale Prelude on a melody by Melchior Vulpius
Flor Peeters (1903–1986)
Chorale Fantasie on ‘Lasst uns erfreuen’
C.S. Lang (1891-1971)
Festival Prelude on ‘Victory’
Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981)
Praeludium – O Filii et Filiae
Dan Locklair (*1949)
Rubrics: “The peace may be exchanged”
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Symphony no 1: Final
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Concerto in D minor After Vivaldi BWV 596
Allegro-Grave-Fuga
Largo e spiccato
Allegro
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Trio Sonata 1 in E flat BWV 525
Allegro moderato
Adagio
Allegro
Paul Dukas (1865–1935)
Fanfare pour précéder “La Péri”
Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély (1817–1869)
Bolero de Concert
Jean Roger-Ducasse (1873-1954)
Pastorale pour Orgue
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Pièces de Fantaisie: Naïades; Clair de Lune; Toccata
Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Pièces de Fantaisie: Carillon de Westminster
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Orgelbüchlein: In dir ist Freude
Flor Peeters (1903–1986)
Aria
Noel Rawsthorne (b.1929)
Dance Suite:
March – On Ilkley Moor
Dancing Feet
Waltz
Danse des Papillons
Line Dance
Percy Whitlock (1903–1946)
Sonata in C minor: Scherzetto
Joseph Bonnet (1884–1944)
Etude de Concert
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

My colourful registrations and interesting programming are often commented upon...

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Most of the cathedrals in the UK; the Lambertikirche, Münster, Magdeburg Cathedral, and other churches in Germany; Notre Dame Cathedral, St Germain des Pres and La Madeleine in Paris; Fourth Church, Chicago, St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, Washington National Cathedral, USA and many churches, concert halls and palaces here in the UK.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Fine musicians such as Olivier Latry, David Briggs, Wayne Marshall and Christopher Herrick.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which I’ve given a solo recital in twice and also accompanied a choir during the Sunday Mass. St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York and Washington National Cathedral USA come a close second, and in the UK I’ve played recitals in Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Blenheim Palace and St David’s Hall Cardiff to name just a few.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

It is usually no problem to adjust timings and I do my best to be flexible. Just let me know if timings change and I’ll see what I can do.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

This isn’t something I offer, but I could point you in the right direction if it’s something you require.

How much time do you need to set up?

Rehearsal and setting up time completely depends on instrument and repertoire.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

For concerts I usually submit a suggested programme taking into account any requests, as part of what I offer is experienced programming. However, I’m always open to new ideas and programming music for a concert or event is a process which evolves through discussion.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

As an organist I use the instrument at the venue, and the price includes research into the instrument. There are also opportunities to hire organs which I can advise you about. As a pianist, again I use the venue’s piano. However, I can source a stage piano or keyboard if the venue doesn’t have an acoustic piano.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

It’s no problem for me to learn new pieces, I’m constantly expanding my repertoire. The amount of time required really depends on the complexity of the piece. It can take anything from a couple of days to a few months.

Paul's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£150
Up to 1 hour£200
Up to 2 hours£250
Up to 3 hours£300
Packages
Funeral or Memorial Service
Music before the service and as the cortège arrives, accompanying any hymns or songs, music for reflection during the service and music at the end as everyone leaves.
£200
Wedding ceremony
This includes music before the service begins, accompanying any hymns or songs, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
£250
Organ Concert
Evening Organ Concert. Two 45 minute halves with interval. Bespoke programmes to include music from a range of periods and countries with a view to showing off the many colours and textures available from the instrument. Second half can be a major work, for example a complete Organ Symphony by Widor or Vierne. Spoken introductions inform and entertain the audience.
£300
Paul
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5 out of 5
9 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Paul's Reviews

From Encore customers:

AU
Alice U
8 months ago
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5 out of 5

Paul was wonderful! Made everything so easy for our June 2023 wedding and our guests loved his playing.

HO
Helen O
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful. So nice, so professional and an incredible musician. Would highly recommend to anyone.

From other customers:

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Tony W
4 years ago, for a Concert in Church St
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5 out of 5

‘2020 got off to a tremendous start on Tuesday 7 Jan when newcomer to Alton, Paul Carr, gave a most stunning organ concert. He opened his eclectic programme with his own arrangement of Johann Strauss II Overture to Die Fledermaus. What a start it was – demonstrating manual dexterity, absolute command of the instrument, maximum use of the organs colours and, overall, a standard that caused a widespread jaw dropping “wow” factor and spontaneous applause! (Usually, we reserve applause at the start and end of concerts but this was from the heart) Thereon, Paul’s programme went from strength to strength underlining this man’s utter professionalism. His programme was varied in taste and all pieces were delivered with expertise and musicianship of the highest order. A full review will follow but to see what you may have missed, Paul’s programme is shown here. Having ended on a high playing Vierne’s Symphony No 6: Final, Paul added as an encore, John Stanley’s (1713-86) B flat Trumpet Voluntary. The overall opinion from the audience was we must invite Paul back to Alton…soon!’

CJ
Charles J
5 years ago, for a Concert in Trinity Square
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5 out of 5

Grand Re-opening Organ Concert; Holy Trinity, Llandudno; 10th July 2018. Very many thanks, Paul, for your splendid recital for our Grand Re-opening of the Organ - the programme was absolutely perfect for our audience, our organ and the occasion - it made the recital really easy to sell and resulted in the Church being full to capacity which was wonderful. Your playing, as always, was stunning and our audience went home very happy - thank you so much for making our Grand Re-opening Concert such a successful and happy occasion... We do hope you will come and play for us again.

Read all 16 reviews