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He is a Welsh conductor, choir director and choral
singer who was sang with the Monteverdi Choir of London and the Heinrich Schutz Choir.
In 1965 he
became recognised as the founder of the acclaimed Welsh chamber choral
group known as the Swansea Bach Choir which has grown to gain a lot of
recognition in the years they’ve been active.
Eighteen years after founding the Swansea Bach Choir
he was approached by BBC Wales in 1983 and asked to establish the BBC Welsh
Chorus. He accepted the invitation
and worked as their Chorus Master until 1995.
In 1984 he assisted in founding the National Youth
Choir of Wales and conducted them for two years with a further performance
with them in Leipzig, Germany
in 1992 where he led them for the annual Bach Memorial Concert.
As well as leading the Swansea Bach Choir he has been
the director of many national and international performances with groups
such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales the Hanover Band and the
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
He was also the music director of the Cardiff
Polyphonic Choir until his retirement from them in 2006.
Honoured for his valuable contribution to music in Wales
he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in
1996.
Such is his recognition in the field of choral music
that he has performed many performances as a guest conductor and taken part
in several music festivals. He has also featured as a
choirmaster or conductor on several recordings that include Celebration (Christmas Fanfares &
Carols), Franck: Psyche and The
Spirit of Christmas Present, by the BBC National Chorus of Wales, Tavener: We Shall See Him As He Is by the
BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Mahler:
Symphony No. 2 by Gilbert Kaplan.
In musical education he was at the Royal Welsh College
of Music as its Head of Vocal Studies from 1997 to 1999. He has since been a lecturer at Cardiff
University’s Department
of Music and also leads the Cardiff University Chamber Choir.
BBC Welsh Chorus recordings
O Come, all ye Faithful (Frederick Oakeley/John
Francis Wade)
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Organist – Huw
Tregelles Williams
Percussionists – Chris Stock &
Mark Walker
Fanfare Trumpeters of the
Welsh Guards
Musical Director – Lt. Col. P. Hannam, BEM
Sources:
- http://swanseabachchoir.org.uk/conductor.html
- http://www.llandeilo.org/festival07.php
- http://www.tycerdd.org/nycw.html
- http://concerts.cf.ac.uk/whats_on/2010-11-21
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-hugh-thomas-q56619/credits/all
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