Michael Pain was born in Bristol, where he had his first organ lessons with
Clifford Harker, the Cathedral Organist. Later, as Organ Scholar of St Peter's
College, Oxford, he studied with Dr Bernard Rose and was an organ pupil of James
Dalton. Further study followed with the concert organist Michael Austin.
As Assistant Director of Music at Canford School, Dorset, from 1978 to 1986, he took the Chapel Choir on tours of Northern France on two occasions, and there were frequent visits to sing Choral Evensong at the Cathedrals of Salisbury, Exeter, Bristol and Christ Church, Oxford. For a time, he combined his teaching post with that of Sub-Organist of Wimborne Minster.
He has given a large number of organ recitals, with venues including Colston Hall, Bristol Cathedral, Blackburn Cathedral, Bradford Cathedral, Chester Cathedral, Wimborne Minster, Halifax Parish Church, St. Anne's Lytham, Christchurch Priory, Ossett Parish Church, Crosthwaite Parish Church and churches in Denmark, including a broadcast for Danish Radio.
In addition to his position as Director of Music at Bolton Parish Church, he is Organist to Bolton School (Boys' Division), from where some of his past pupils have moved on to Organ Scholarships at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and Oxford University.