Carl Hersom graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the Schwob School of Music of Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, where he studied horn under Jason Eklund and Anna Dodd, music theory and aural skills under Kristen Hansen, and organ under Joseph Golden. He was an active member of the CSU Wind Ensemble and CSU Philharmonic Orchestra, playing principal parts on multiple occasions. He also had a semester-long independent study and lecture on pipe organ building. Carl's love and interest for the organ began at a very young age, spending most of his time in church services being enthralled with the organist and her playing. After taking up the French horn in elementary school, and ultimately majoring in the horn in college, it wasn't until then that he formally started organ lessons. Through this, combined with hundreds of hours of learning about carpentry, electricity, and mechanical movement from his father at home, started his fascination of the pipe organ's functionality and history, which lead to his serious dedication to pipe organ building and restoration. During his independent study, he had many shadowing hours of organ maintenance with Robert Coulter of Robert I. Coulter Organbuilders of Atlanta, Georgia, and went on to do a full-time apprenticeship and employment with GHP Associates of Attleboro, Massachusetts, where he learned fine wood-working and leathering skills under the direction of Gary Phillips. Prior to his full-time appointment with the Historic Organ Restoration Committee, he was employed part-time with both HORC and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.