2018 St Chad’s Shrewsbury

by OrganistPaul|Published August 15, 2018-at dimensions 476 × 674

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The organ of Victoria Hall Hanley Organ Prom this

Always good to be back at the St Chad’s Cathedral

The mighty Marcussen organ at @bridgewaterhall Man

Quite a large selection of colours to choose from

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Reviews

‘Paul’s opening recital at St Bart’s was quite something. A large and very appreciative audience sat, without any visual aid, and were amazed at how quiet the action now was and what bright sounds he conjured up in an interesting and varied programme. Among many other wonderful achievements were the seamless changes of registration (without any thumb pistons), the impeccable articulation and especially the pedal phrasing and ornamentation in the Bach Toccata, Adagio and Fugue. He also included a very powerful piece dedicated to him by the French organist and composer Thierry Pallesco.’ St Bart’s Penn 2025

‘May I thank you for a truly superb performance today and an excellent choice of programme. You squeezed every imaginablev sound from the organ… We are so fortunate that someone with your enviable talent is willing to come and play the Priory organ for us – and the comments I received on the door afterwards indicated that I was not in a minority in thinking thus. So, a big thank you – and we can’t wait for you to come again.‘ Christchurch Priory 2024

‘I want you to know how much I enjoyed and appreciated your playing. For me it was the highlight of the weekend. I would particularly mention your performance of Bach’s Great G minor, – your phrasing, articulation and registration brought this wonderful work alive to me as has never happened before – and I say that having umpteen recordings made by the great and the good.‘ Bridlington Priory 2024

Just wanted to contact you to say thank you for your recital in Truro that my wife and I have just enjoyed. It was a phenomenal performance and quite the best recital I’ve heard in a very long time. The Guilmant especially was brilliant and the whole programme delightful.’ Truro Cathedral 2023

'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!' St Laurence, Alton 2020

‘Thanks for a superb recital Wednesday evening. This was my first live experience of the Salisbury Willis and it certainly is an impressive instrument. Choice of programme also provided new experiences including the Bossi Etude, which was a real delight. Thanks especially for the Bach Sinfonia encore, which is a personal favourite transcribed for organ. Registered in a way I feel sure JSB would have used that mighty machine had it been available!' Salisbury Cathedral, 2017

‘What tremendous pleasure it gave me to be present at your usual impeccable performance on that magnificent instrument, and I have a feeling, that to a greater or lesser degree, you are inspired by the particular organ you are playing at the time, and in this case I am literally running out of superlatives to describe what I was hearing… thanks for a memorable occasion.’ Salisbury Cathedral, 2017

'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.’ Re-opening Organ Concert Holy Trinity, Llandudno, 2018

"Ein glänzend aufgelegter Paul Carr zeigte in einem wahren Feuerwerk abwechslungsreicher Werke mit hohen Tempi und farbigen Registrierungen („More Organ Fireworks“) sein enormes virtuoses sowie künstlerisches Können und begeisterte das Publikum mit technischer Brillanz und musikalischem Einfühlungsvermögen." Orgelpunkt Magdeburg Dom, 2016

Fourth Church Chicago Organ Dedication Concert Review

'Paul Carr’s dedication concert of the new Quimby organ at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago was absolutely electrifying and he received an instant standing ovation from the hundreds of enthusiastic people that attended. He brought out so many colors from the organ, creating wonderful effects and a huge range of expression. His technical abilities made even the most difficult of pieces sound easy, yet he always played with a musical expression perfectly suited for each piece. His comments between pieces were delightful and helped the audience enjoy the concert even more. If every organ concert was as enjoyable as the one played by Paul Carr, organ concerts would be packed to the rafters.'
Dr John W W Sherer, Director of Music, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, USA, 2016

Paul Carr in Chicago

More reviews here...

PAST PERFORMANCES 2026

8th January 2026
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

PAST PERFORMANCES 2025

14th December 2025
St Alban’s Church Birmingham
‘Nine Lessons & Carols’ with Birmingham Bach Choir

4th December 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital with David Saint

8th November 2025
St Oswald’s Parish Church, Oswestry
Cantiones Choir Concert, Petter: Vigil Mass & Duruflé: Requiem

6th November 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

22nd November 2025
Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke-on-Trent
Organ Prom Concert

11th November 2025
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
OU Degree Ceremonies

30th October 2025
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
OU Degree Ceremonies

16th October 2025
Norwich Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

30th September 2025
St Briktius Kirche, Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
Orgelkonzert

27th September 2025
Wendelinus-Basilika, St.Wendel, Germany
Orgelkonzert

27th September 2025
Basilika St Johann, Saarbrücken, Germany
Orgelmatinée

7th September 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music: The Grand Finale

6th September 2025
St Bartholomew's Church Penn, Wolverhampton
Grand Organ Opening Concert

29th August 2025
St Alkmund’s Church Whitchurch
Fridays@ONE Organ Concert

26th August 2025
Tewkesbury Abbey
Lunchtime Organ Recital

23rd-24th August 2025
Tewkesbury Abbey
Services with The Choir of St Bart’s Penn

19-22nd August 2025
Worcester Cathedral
Services with The Choir of St Bart’s Penn

14th August 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Plus! Organ Recital

9th August 2025
St Hilda’s Warley
Selly Park Singers‘ Come & Sing - A Season to Sing with Joanna Forbes L’Estrange

3rd August 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

19th-20th July 2025
Chester Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

15th July 2025
Hereford Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

14, 15 & 18th July
Hereford Cathedral
Choral Evensongs with Abbey Gate College Choir

11th July 2025
St John the Baptist Cardiff
‘Heritage in Action’ Lunchtime Organ Concert

6th July 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

3rd July 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital: Vierne Symphonie VI

21st June 2025
Wesley Methodist Centre, Chester
Music at Wesley Organ Recital

14th June 2025
St Francis Bournville
Directing Selly Park Singers Concert ‘A Season To Sing’

1st June 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

4th May 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

22nd April 2025
St Paul’s Cathedral London
Choral Evensong with Abbey Gate College Choir

19th April 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
The Easter Vigil

16th April 2025
St Andrew’s Netherton
Performance of Stainer’s The Crucifixion

16th April 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
The Chrism Mass

11th April 2025
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
OU Degree Ceremonies

6th April 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

29th March 2025
Shirley Methodist Church
Concert with Solihull Chandos Choir and Hampton Singers

6th March 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

2nd March 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

15-16th February 2025
Salisbury Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

2nd February 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

1st February 2025
Selly Oak Methodist Church
Accompanying Birmingham Bach Choir's 'Come & Sing' Handel Coronation Anthems

5th January 2025
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

2nd January 2025
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

PAST PERFORMANCES 2024

15th December 2024
St Alban’s Church Birmingham
‘Nine Lessons & Carols’ with Birmingham Bach Choir

14th December 2024
Melksham United Church
Accompanying Choral Concert with Melksham Choral Society

5th December 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

1st December 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

30th November 2024
Christ Church Selly Park, Birmingham
Directing Selly Park Singers Concert; Alleluia

23rd November 2024
St Chad's Church Shrewsbury
Choral Concert with Shrewsbury Cantata

8th November 2024
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
OU Degree Ceremonies

3rd November 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

27th October 2024
New Road Methodist Church Centre Stourbridge
Organ Recital

26th October 2024
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
OU Degree Ceremonies

17th October 2024
Worcester Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Recital

10th October 2024
Christchurch Priory
Lunchtime Organ Recital

6th October 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

3rd October 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

7th September 2024
Dore Abbey
Mendelssohn ‘Hymn of Praise’ Choral Workshop with Paul Spicer (Piano accompaniment)

1st September 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

16th August 2024
St Chad's Church Shrewsbury
Music in the Round Lunchtime Organ Concert

9th, 10th, 11th August 2024
York Minster
Weekend services with the choir of St Bart’s Penn

4th August 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

1st August 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Plus! Organ Recital

27th July 2024 (6pm)
Bridlington Priory
Summer Series Organ Recital

27th July 2024 (2pm)
Bridlington Priory
IAO Festival Organ Recital

13-14th July 2024
Ely Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

7th July 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

5th July 2024
St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham
Lunchtime Organ Recital

29th June 2024
St Benedict’s Wombourne
Inaugural Organ Concert

15th June 2024
Wesley Methodist Centre, Chester
Music at Wesley Organ Recital

2nd June 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

11th May 2024
St James Church Dudley
Dudley Choral Society Concert

9th May 2024
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
OU Degree Ceremonies

5th May 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

4th May 2024
St Laurence Church Ludlow
Ludlow Arts Lunchtime Organ Recital

2nd May 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

27th April 2024
Wylde Green URC Sutton Coldfield
Accompanying Birmingham Bach Choir ‘Come & Sing’ Puccini’s Messa di Gloria

20th April 2024
Christ Church Selly Park, Birmingham
Directing Selly Park Singers Concert: The Power of Music

13th April 2024
Shrewsbury URC
Choral Concert with Shrewsbury Cantata Choir

12th April 2024
Eglwys Dewi Sant, Cardiff
Lunchtime Organ Recital

7th April 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

4th April 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

27th March 2024
St Andrew’s Netherton
Performance of Stainer’s The Crucifixion

23rd March 2024
Shirley Methodist Church
Concert with Solihull Chandos Choir

14th March 2024
Bangor Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Recital

3rd March 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

17th-18th February 2024
Norwich Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

4th February 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

1st February 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Composite Thursday LIVE Organ Recital
'The Walker at 30'

7th January 2024
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

4th January 2024
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital

Some highlights 2017 to 2023...

17th December 2023
St Paul’s Church Birmingham
‘Nine Lessons & Carols’ with Birmingham Bach Choir

25th November 2023
St Mary's Church Woburn
Concert with Danesborough Chorus

11th November 2023
St Barnabas Linslade
Polymnia Choral Concert including Duruflé Requiem

9th November 2023
Christchurch Priory
Lunchtime Organ Recital

4th November 2023
St Chad's Church Shrewsbury
Choral Concert with Shrewsbury Cantata

3rd November 2023
Friends Meeting House, Bournville
Organ Concert

26th October 2023
Holy Trinity Church Stratford-upon-Avon
Organ Restoration Appeal Fund Recital

20th October 2023
Truro Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Recital

8th September 2023
The City Parish. Church of St John the Baptist, Cardiff
Organ Concert

3rd September 2023
Holy Trinity Parish Church Wordsley
Sunday Afternoon Organ Music 20th Anniversary

2nd September 2023
Broadway URC Walsall
Coffee & Cake Organ Concert

18th, 19th, 20th August 2023
Wells Cathedral
Weekend services with the choir of St Bart’s Penn

13th & 14th July 2023
Llandaff Cathedral
Choral Evensong with the Choir of Abbey Gate College

11th July 2023
Hereford Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

8th July 2023
Christ Church Selly Park, Birmingham
Directing Selly Park Singers Concert: Who Could Ask For Anything More?

7th July 2023
St Peter's Collegiate Church Wolverhampton
Lunchtime Live! Organ Recital

20th May 2023
Wesley Church Centre Chester
Lunchtime Organ Concert

13th May 2023
Elgar Hall, University of Birmingham
Concert with City of Birmingham Choir

22nd April 2023
Shrewsbury United Reformed Church
Concert with Shrewsbury Cantata - Duruflé Requiem

15th-16th April 2023
Bath Abbey
Weekend services with Priory Voices

4th April 2023
Lichfield Cathedral
Tenebrae with Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir
including Finzi's Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice

23rd February 2023
St Mary Redcliffe Bristol
Organ Concert

21st February 2023
Exeter College Chapel Oxford
Lunchtime Organ Recital

18th February 2023
Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
Saturday Organ Prom

4th February 2023
Selly Oak Methodist Church
Accompanying Birmingham Bach Choir's 'Come & Sing' Dvorak Stabat Mater

17th December 2022
St Martin-in-the-Bull-Ring Birmingham
'Carols for All' Christmas Concert with City of Birmingham Choir

16th December 2022
St Chad's Church Shrewsbury
'Concert in the Round' Christmas Organ Recital

10th December 2022
Shirley Methodist Church
John Rutter's Magnificat Christmas Concert with The Heart of England Singers

3rd December 2022
All Saints Leighton Buzzard
Christmas Concert with The Linsdale Singers

12th November 2022
St Mary's Woburn
Remembrance Concert with Danesborough Chorus

30th October 2022
St Sebastian’s Cathedral, Magdeburg, Germany
Winter Orgelpunkt Concert

1st October 2022
Shrewsbury Abbey
'Saturdays at Noon' Organ Concert

29th August 2022
Malvern Priory
Bank Holiday Organ Recital

15th-21st August 2022
Bristol Cathedral
Choral Services with the Choirs of St Bart’s Penn

16th August 2022
Bristol Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Recital

9th August 2022
Hereford Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

14th & 15th July 2022
Gloucester Cathedral
Choral Evensong with the Choir of Abbey Gate College

13th July 2022
St Mary’s Guildford
J.S. Bach Organ Recital

11th July 2022
Gloucester Cathedral
Choral Evensong with the Choir of Abbey Gate College

9th July 2022
Church of the Ascension, Stirchley
Directing Selly Park Singers Concert: A Summer Celebration

29th May 2022
Westminster Abbey
Sunday Organ Recital

23rd-24th April 2022
Lichfield Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

2nd April 2022
St Nicholas Alcester
Accompanying Choral Concert with The Alcester Singers

24th March 2022
St Mary Redcliffe
Lunchtime Organ Recital

12-13 February 2022
Peterborough Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

11th December 2021
St Alkmund's Church, Shrewsbury
Concert with Shrewsbury Cantata Choir

7th November 2021
Holy Trinity Wordsley
200th Sunday Afternoon Organ Music

1st November 2021
St Anne's Cathedral, Leeds
Leeds International Concert Series Organ Concert

23th-24th October 2021
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Weekend services with Priory Voices

19th October 2021
St David's Hall , Cardiff
Lunchtime Organ Concert

7th October 2021
St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham
Thursday LIVE Organ Recital with David Saint

24th September 2021
Lichfield Cathedral
Evening Organ Recital Series

19th August 2021
Victoria Hall, Hanley
Organ Prom Festival

7th August 2021
Richmond Hill St Andrews' URC Bournemouth
Organ Recital

10th October 2020
Rochdale Town Hall
Brereton Memorial Recital

Performances cancelled or postponed due to Coronavirus pandemic listed here

15th March 2020
8th March 2020
St Bartholomew’s Church Penn, Wolverhampton
BACH @ BART’S Organ recital

12th February 2020
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon
Soundbites Lunchtime Organ Concert

7th January 2020
St Laurence Church, Alton
Organ Recital

17th November 2019
St Barnabas Church, Linslade
Concert with Open University Chorus - Duruflé Requiem, etc.

9th November 2019
Stoke Minster
Organ Recital

2nd November 2019
Great Malvern Priory
Organ Recital

16th October 2019
St Albans Cathedral
Organ Concert

27th August 2019
Tewkesbury Abbey
Organ Concert

12th August 2019
Coventry Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Recital

10th August 2019
St Mary’s Slough
Lunchtime Organ Recital

6th August 2019
St Alkmund's, Whitchurch
Lunchtime Organ Concert

2nd August 2019
St Werburgh’s Church, Chester
First Friday Recital Series

21st July 2019
St Patrick's Cathedral, New York
Kilgen Organ Recital

6th July 2019
St Hilda’s Warley
3-Shires Festival Recital

12th June 2019
St Mary's Guildford
Bach Recital

7th June 2019
Emmanuel Wylde Green
Lunchtime Organ Recital

14th May 2019
Neuadd Dewi Sant St David's Hall, Cardiff
Organ Concert

1st April 2019
Royal Hospital School Chapel, Holbrook
Organ Recital

2nd March 2019
Coventry Cathedral
Directing the St Ignatius Singers for Choral Evensong

16th-17th February 2019
Gloucester Cathedral
Choral services playing for Priory Voices

5th February 2019
Abbey Gate College, Chester
Adjudicating the Mary Caven House Music Festival

4th January 2019
St Paul's Cathedral, London
Choral Evensong with The Choir of St John the Baptist, Devizes

19th August 2018
St Michael’s Witley Court, Great Witley
Organ Recital

9th August 2018
Holy Trinity, Wistanstow
Stretton Arts Festival Lunchtime Organ Recital

8th July 2018
Holy Trinity Llandudno, North Wales
Grand Re-Opening Organ Concert

18th February 2018
St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Sunday Grand Organ Recital

24th January 2018
Blackburn Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

18th January 2018
Ripon Cathedral
Lunchtime Organ Concert

24th November 2017
Bradford Cathedral
Wednesday@One Organ Recital

30th August 2017
Salisbury Cathedral
Evening Organ Recital

21st April 2017
Stephansdom, Vienna
Mass and Choral concert with The City of Birmingham Choir Handel's Messiah with St Stephen's Orchestra and The City of Birmingham Choir

8th April 2017
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Audition d'orgue