David Thomas currently holds the Dame Gillian Weir Organ Scholarship at the Royal Festival Hall, serving as an ambassador to the magnificent Harrison & Harrison instrument and complementing the Pull Out All the Stops International Organ Series with workshops, talks, demonstrations and performances for new audiences. David also holds the Organ Scholarship at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, working in parallel with the choral scholars and St. Martin's Chorus, conducting and accompanying three services a week. This includes a Eucharistic service at the partner church, St Stephen Walbrook in the City of London. David is also the Director of Music at St. Mary's Church in Sanderstead. He directs the choir for the weekly Choral Eucharist and monthly Choral Evensong services. In addition to his work as an organist, David provides tuition to numerous students.
David grew up in South Croydon, taking up organ lessons during his time at Caterham School. He went on to read music at the University of Hull and later at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating with an MA in Performance and the Stephen Bicknell Organ Prize. Whilst at the RAM, he studied organ with David Titterington and Anne Marsden Thomas and regularly participated in masterclasses with visiting organists. He also studied organology with William McVicker, improvisation with Gerard Brooks, harmonium with Anne Page and choral conducting with Patrick Russill. David has also taken part in several study trips and masterclasses abroad, notably to play the 1710 Clicquot organ in the Royal Chapel of Versailles, the Dom Bedos organ of Sainte-Croix, Bordeaux and the Cavaillé-Coll organ at Saint-Étienne, Caen. He has also travelled to Amsterdam to play the famous Müller Organ in the Grote Kerk, Haarlem. David became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists in February 2016. He also holds the Licentiate of Trinity College London in Organ Performance and the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in Piano Performance.
Allegro moderato from Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 65, Felix Mendelssohn
Allegro assai vivace from Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 65, Felix Mendelssohn
Fugue in B major, Op. 99 No. 2, Camille Saint-Saëns
Photos
Performing during the pre-concert talk to Jane Parker-Smith's organ recital at the Royal Festival Hall
RCO Masterclass at the Grote Kerk, Haarlem, Amsterdam
Accompanying the Lambeth Music Festival 2017 at the Royal Festival Hall
Receiving the diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO) from Dr Philip Moore (President of the RCO) at the conferment ceremony at Southwark Cathedral
RCO Masterclass at the Royal Chapel of Versailles, France
Rehearsing at the Royal Festival Hall
Music Tuition
Based in South Croydon, David offers tuition in organ, piano, music theory and aural and teaches students of all ages and abilities. Initially, a consultation lesson can be arranged followed by lessons to suit the students needs and availability. To contact David, please use the form below.