He is a Welsh conductor, choir director and choral singer who has sung 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
The First Nowell (Traditional/Anonymous)
(Nimbus NI5310 (CD: Celebration: Christmas Fanfares & Carols)
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Trumpets – Fanfare Trumpeters of the Welsh Guards
Organ -Huw Tregelles WilliamsBlack Dyke Mills Band
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Nimbus NI5310 (CD: Celebration: Christmas Fanfares & Carols)
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Organ -Huw Tregelles Williams
Arranger – John Hugh Thomas
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Organist – Huw Tregelles Williams
Fanfare Trumpeters of the Welsh Guards
Musical Director – Lt. Col. P. Hannam, BEM
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
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks/Walford Davies version)
Nimbus NI5310 (CD: Celebration: Christmas Fanfares & Carols)
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Organ -Huw Tregelles Williams
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
Once in Royal David’s City (Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander/Henry John Gauntlett)
Nimbus NI5310 (CD: Celebration: Christmas Fanfares & Carols)
Conductor – John Hugh Thomas
Organ -Huw Tregelles WilliamsBlack Dyke Mills Band
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
Here is being paid tribute to by his students….
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