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

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

. Grindlay finished his schooling in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

and studied at the Royal Canadian College of Organists 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), Edwar ...

and the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...

. 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 mo ...

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 A Bachelor of Music (BMus; sometimes conferred as Bachelor of Musical Arts) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. The degree may be awarded for performance, music ed ...

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, specialising in organ performance and

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...

. Grindlay was Head of Chapel Music and a housemaster at

Bedford School Bedford School is a 7–18 Single-sex education, boys Public school (United Kingdom), public school in the county town of Bedford in England. Founded in 1552, it is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the Harpur Trust. Bed ...

from 1994 until 2001 where he took up the post of

Director of Music A music director, musical director or director of music is a 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 ...

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter, located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. T ...

. 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 title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

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 British organists 21st-century British male musicians