Gordon Carr was born in Matlock, Derbyshire and was educated at Dulwich College and The Royal Academy of Music, where he studied the horn with Barry Tuckwell. He has enjoyed a varied freelance career, which encompassed playing with all the major London orchestras. As a session musician he played on the soundtrack of numerous films including The Boys from Brazil, The Spy who Loved Me and Straw Dogs, and on the backing tracks of much pop music.
In the role of soloist, he appeared at the Wigmore Hall, on the South Bank, round the UK, Italy and Belgium. With John Pigneguy, he recorded the concerti of Vivaldi and Telemann. With Mouth of Hermes, he was in the vanguard of contemporary music performance throughout the 1970's. In his twenties, he began to write music and whilst a member of The Locke Brass Consort, he wrote several large scale works for it. 'Prism for Brass and Percussion' was recorded on an acclaimed disc in 1975. 'Clearly a composer to be reckoned with' commented Records and Recording. There followed various commissions; 'Dialogue for Trumpet' and Brass for James Watson, also recorded; 'Trombone Concerto' for Don Lusher and The Godson for Robert Hardy, premiered on BBC 2.
In all he has written in excess of 200 works, which includes string music for the GSMD, pianoforte music, much of which Sally Mays has recorded for ABC, concerti for Saxophone ~ for Martin Robertson, viola ~ for Judy Swan and for 'cello.
For thirty years, Gordon Carr taught at The Centre for Young Musicians and throughout his career has coached and conducted on holiday music courses. He has lectured at GSMD and at University of Keele. Conducting engagements have been with The Locke Brass Consort, London Brass Consort, London Youth Symphonic Band, London Youth Chamber Orchestra, RAM Brass Ensemble, LCM Symphonic Band and orchestra of International Summer School at Keele.