Joseph Groocock was born in Croydon, England, in 1913 and came to live in Ireland in 1937. He attended St Michael’s, Tenbury, as a choral scholar and read classics and music at Christ Church, Oxford. He was Director of Music at St Columba’s College, Rathfarnham and a lecturer in the Music Department of Trinity College, Dublin. He conducted the University of Dublin Choral Society for forty years and afforded inspirational experience to many.
He made the works of Bach his life-long study and was tireless in emulating them and encouraging his students to do likewise. He excelled in writing fugues and many of his own compositions are fugues or canons. Much of his music was written for friends.
Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland
