Biography…
Tom, a Tenor based in Birmingham, is known for his versatility across opera, oratorio, and choral repertoire. Recent operatic roles include Albert in Britten’s Albert Herring, a production hailed as “triumphant” by Opera Magazine. He is currently an Ex Cathedra Scholar for the 2024/25 season, having previously held the same post in 2023/24, and performs regularly as A ,member of their consort.
Opera highlights include The Lover in Ethyl Smyth’s ‘Fete Galante’ (RBC), Rev Horace Adams (Cover) in Britten’s Peter Grimes (BYO). Scenes highlights include Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Pelléas in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, and Leukippos in Strauss’ Daphne. Other appearances include Faust (Faust), Idamante (Idomeneo), Falke (Die Fledermaus), and chorus in Jonathan Dove’s The Enchanted Pig at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
In and around Birmingham, he sings as a Tenor Lay Clerk at St Philip’s Cathedral, with additional engagements at St Chad’s Catholic Cathedral and the Oratory of St Philip Neri. He has performed professionally with ensembles including: The Oxford Camerata, Canzonetta Chamber Choir, and the CBSO Chorus in a professional capacity, as well as the award-winning Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.
Notable appearances beyond Birmingham include solo performances in Bach’s Advent Cantatas at Chichester Cathedral, Byrdwatching at the Cheltenham Festival, and a range of international work in Florence, Malta, and Vienna. He has sung at London’s Wigmore Hall and St John’s Smith Square for Bach’s B Minor Mass.
As a soloist, Thomas has performed major works such as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, and Stainer’s Crucifixion. He has been fortunate to perform the world premiere of Philip Sawyers’ Mayflower on the Sea of Time with the English Symphony Orchestra at Worcester Cathedral, and in the UK premiere of John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth with the CBSO at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. He also recently appeared with the Mozart Festival Orchestra to a sold-out Symphony Hall.
As a conductor, Tom studies with Julian Wilkins (Associate Chorus Director, CBSO) and has led ensembles in prestigious venues including Southwark and Salisbury Cathedrals, Keble College (Oxford), and The Turner Contemporary. Tom enjoys a growing involvement in Opera, both as a performer and from the podium, having recently worked as Assistant Conductor to Harry Sever in production of Dido and Aeneas (Purcell).
Until recently he served as Director of Music at St Dunstan’s, Mayfield - home to the renowned Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts. A keen advocate for community music, he has worked with The People’s Orchestra, leading rehearsals for their outreach show choirs around Birmingham. Tom brings his experience as a singer into his conducting, a perspective that gives him a valuable advantage in fostering empathetic, musically informed collaboration with performers on stage.
When not singing, he can usually be found in the kitchen, on the squash court, or admiring modernist architecture while attempting to look inconspicuous.
Thomas began singing at the age of seven as a chorister in Sussex. He studies with Christopher Turner at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he graduated First Class with a BMus(Hons) in Vocal Performance in Summer 2025.
He is supported by the Josephine Baker Trust and has received coaching and masterclass experience from artists including James Gilchrist, Luís Gomes, John Graham-Hall, Robin Bowman, Christopher Bucknall, and Dylan Perez.
Upcoming engagements include performances at the Lichfield and Mayfield Festivals, the role of Rev. Horace Adam’s (Cover) in BYO’s production of Britten’s Peter Grimes, soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Brecon Choral Festival, and appearances at the International Conference on Baroque Music. He looks forward to beginning work as Musical Director on a new production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera ‘The Old Maid and the Thief’.