David Thomas MA LRAM ARCO LTCL DipABRSM

Biography

David is known for his calm and methodical teaching approach. Alongside private tuition for piano, music theory and organ based in Sanderstead, South Croydon, he is an Accredited Teacher with the Royal College of Organists. David is also the Director of Music at St. John's Church in Shirley, Croydon where he directs the four-part SATB choir of 18 for the weekly choir practice and Sunday Choral Eucharist. David is the Musical Director of the Cantilena Singers, based in Sanderstead. He also regularly accompanies choirs on piano and organ, including the Oxted and Limpsfield Choral Society where recent performances have included Handel's 'Messiah', Rutter's 'Requiem', Karl Jenkins 'The Armed Man' and Puccini's 'Messa de Gloria'.

David graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with an MA in Organ Performance and was also awarded the Stephen Bicknell Organ Prize. Whilst at the RAM, he studied organ with David Titterington and Anne Marsden Thomas. In 2016, he became the first recipient of the Dame Gillian Weir Organ Scholarship at the Royal Festival Hall. He has also held the Organ Scholarship at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. David became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in May 2021. He also holds the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in Organ Teaching, 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. Outside of music, David enjoys swimming. He is also a private pilot.

stjohnsshirley.org.uk

rco.org.uk/education_find_teacher

Recordings

Organ

Prelude in C major, BWV 547, J. S. Bach

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

Choral

And the Glory of the Lord (Chorus from Messiah), Handel

Carol of the Bells, Mykola Leontovych

Hallelujah (Chorus from Messiah), Handel

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

Performing to Dame Gillian Weir at the Royal Festival Hall

Organ Fair at the Royal Festival Hall

St. Mary's Church Choir 2021

Performing on the Sauer-Organ at the Thomaskirche, Leipzig

Performing at Reading Town Hall

Playing the organ of Copenhagen Cathedral

Playing the organ of the Mirror Chapel, Prague

Playing the organ of the St. Michael's Church, Hamburg

Playing the organ of St. Peter's Church, Zurich

Accompanying carol services at Croydon Minster

Accompanying graduation ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall

Accompanying the Oxted and Limpsfield Choral Society

Playing the organ at the Bach church, Arnstadt

Playing the organ at St. Ouen, Rouen

Playing the organ at L'église Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Paris

Playing the organ of Antwerp Cathedral

Playing the organ of Brussels Cathedral