Meet the new University Organist and Carillonist

Titus Grenyer (BMus(Perf) (Hons) '20) joined the University as Manager, University Organ and Carillon in June. Titus graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Music (Perfromance) in Organ Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2020 with First Class Honours. He is also a violinist and pianist, a teacher and an active composer.  

Titus’ role is to ensure that the University of Sydney War Memorial Carillon and the Von Beckerath Organ are used to their maximum potential to the benefit of the University and community. As he settles into his new position, we asked him five quick questions about his role, his background and his experience studying at the University of Sydney.

What is your musical background?

I’ve been a musician all my life – I started by learning the violin and piano, and later took music theory, composition and organ lessons. In 2019 I completed my Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours in Organ Studies, at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. My Honours thesis explored the presence of music on Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914. Along the way I have also picked up the art of singing and conducting.

What were you up to before you came to the University of Sydney?

Since graduating from the Con, I’ve had a professional career mostly as an organist. This included serving as Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Cathedral, the City Organist for the Sydney Town Hall, and Director of Music at Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church in Chatswood. Lastly, I created a Youtube Channel called Pep Organ, where I hope to make organ music more accessible and exciting to the general public.

Can you tell us a little bit about your new role?

The great joy of this role is moving between three “offices”. Much of the time is spent in a conventional office space, as I manage all requests and matters related to our university organ and carillon. The other two offices are the instruments themselves – sitting up in the organ loft at the Great Hall to play for graduation ceremonies, or up in the bell tower, learning new music for an upcoming carillon recital. It is a varied role, and I’m excited to share my love for the instruments with the alumni community.

The University organ and carillon have a rich history. Do you have a favourite fun fact?

The organ was once humanity’s most complex invention. This is a testament to the high regard that was once held for organ-building and organs in general. In terms of weight and size, the carillon and organ compete with each other to be the largest instruments in the world. We are very fortunate to possess both of these instruments in the Quad.

What is your favourite memory of your time at the Conservatorium of Music?

Of all things I learned at the Conservatorium, perhaps the greatest joy was learning to play the Balinese gamelan. The Con is a place where you can learn all sorts of fascinating things; sitting in the gamelan room with a class of people who had all never played before, learning something completely foreign to us really brought that home.

Hero photo by Abril Felman/City of Sydney.