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.
Opera highlights include The Lover in Ethyl Smyth’s ‘Fete Galante’ (RBC) and again as a Cover for Pegasus Opera, 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, The Armonico Consort, Canzonetta Chamber Choir, and the CBSO Chorus in a professional capacity, as well as the award-winning Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.
He is an Ex Cathedra Scholar for the 2025/26 season, having previously held the same post for the previous two years, and performs as a member of their consort.
As a soloist, Thomas has performed major works such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Brecon Choral Festival, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, and Stainer’s Crucifixion.
He was 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.
As a conductor, Tom studies with Julian Wilkins (Associate Chorus Director, CBSO) and 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).
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 studies on the MMus (Vocal and Opera) Course, kindly supported by the Josephine Baker Trust and the Lamport Hall Trust.
Tom graduated First Class with a BMus(Hons) in Vocal Performance from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2025. He has been fortunate to receive coaching and masterclass experience from artists including Nicky Spence, Sir Thomas Allen, James Gilchrist, Luís Gomes and John Graham-Hall.
Upcoming engagements include performances at the Lichfield and Mayfield Festivals. 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’.