THOM MEREDITH(MA Oxon)
Thom began his involvement with music at an early age, singing with Leeds Youth Opera Group and then Leeds Youth Chorale. As a treble he performed many solo roles including the Shepherd Boy in Tosca (Opera North) and the boy soprano in George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children (Ballet Rambert). He studied singing with Jean Alistair, Arthur Reckless (Guildhall School of Music and Drama) and, more recently, Andrew Heggie. Thom graduated from Brasenose College, University of Oxford, where he was awarded an Exhibition as conductor of the Chapel choir. Following a PGCE qualification from the University of Leeds he taught Music in schools including four years as Head of Music at Colne Valley High School, Huddersfield.
Thom’s career involvement with young musicians continued when he joined the staff of Kirklees Music School (now Musica Kirklees) in September 1999 as Assistant Principal. He was appointed Principal in 2004 and continued to champion the cause of young people’s music making over the years until stepping down as Principal in August 2023. In 2000, Thom formed and conducted the Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra (now Musica Youth Orchestra) whose performances have included Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto (with John Lill); Karl Jenkins The Armed Man – a mass for peace; Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture and Bruch Violin Concerto no 1 and whose performances took them several times to the Royal Albert Hall as well as regular concert tours across Europe.
In addition to his passion for conducting, Thom has established a reputation as a fine baritone soloist, an arranger of music for female, male and mixed voice choirs. He has taken solo bass/baritone roles in a wide variety of concerts, operas and oratorios including first performances of contemporary works. Recent performances include: Carl Orff Carmina Burana; Stainer Crucifixion; Brahms A German Requiem; Fauré and Durruflé Requiems; Handel Messiah; Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, Sancta Civitas and A Sea Symphony, Finzi In Terra Pax, Paul Carr Seven Last Words from the Cross and Patrick Lee Sacrifices (recorded in July 2018). With accompanist Keith Swallow, he released a CD, Let Beauty Awake, which features English Song Cycles by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth and Finzi. In September 2018 Thom performed Schumann’s song cycle, Dichterliebe with accompanist Chris Pulleyn and they repeated the partnership in 2021 with a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel.
As Musical Director of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, a position he has held since 1989, Thom has enabled the choir to achieve musical standards which have taken them to unrivalled levels of success. They twice won the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and in May 2007 won the International Male Voice Choir competition at the Male Voice Choral Festival in Cornwall. Thom is now regularly in demand to adjudicate and to lead vocal workshops, singing days and choral courses across the country, both with adults and young people.
Thom was delighted to be appointed as Musical Director to the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir in September this year and conducted his first concerts with them in Wakefield Cathedral in the Autumn of 2023. He looks forward to many more successful performances and other exciting challenges that lie ahead.
Along with his wife, Lynn Hudson, Thom is also a director of the Harrogate Festival Choral Course (HFCC). He has conducted performances of both traditional and contemporary works including Haydn Creation; Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle; Mendelssohn St Paul and Elijah; Gounod Messe Solennelle de Sainte-Cécile; Walton Belshazzar’s Feast; Britten The Company of Heaven; Janacek Otčenáš; Alexander L’Estrange Zimbe!; Ola Gjeilo Sunrise Mass and Paul Carr Seven Last Words from the Cross. The D & S Times wrote: “In this feast of music, the HFCC was eloquently and sensitively conducted by Thom Meredith… who has a wealth of experience in teaching, directing and arranging.” (Irene MacDonald).
Thom and Lynn’s son, Harry met his future wife Ellie whilst they were studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (percussion and saxophone respectively). Harry is now an internationally recognised DJ who works alongside Ellie (“Ellie Sax”) at venues ranging from the Piece Hall in Halifax, to clubs in Ibiza and Formula 1 after-parties in Singapore!
Thom’s career involvement with young musicians continued when he joined the staff of Kirklees Music School (now Musica Kirklees) in September 1999 as Assistant Principal. He was appointed Principal in 2004 and continued to champion the cause of young people’s music making over the years until stepping down as Principal in August 2023. In 2000, Thom formed and conducted the Kirklees Youth Symphony Orchestra (now Musica Youth Orchestra) whose performances have included Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto (with John Lill); Karl Jenkins The Armed Man – a mass for peace; Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture and Bruch Violin Concerto no 1 and whose performances took them several times to the Royal Albert Hall as well as regular concert tours across Europe.
In addition to his passion for conducting, Thom has established a reputation as a fine baritone soloist, an arranger of music for female, male and mixed voice choirs. He has taken solo bass/baritone roles in a wide variety of concerts, operas and oratorios including first performances of contemporary works. Recent performances include: Carl Orff Carmina Burana; Stainer Crucifixion; Brahms A German Requiem; Fauré and Durruflé Requiems; Handel Messiah; Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, Sancta Civitas and A Sea Symphony, Finzi In Terra Pax, Paul Carr Seven Last Words from the Cross and Patrick Lee Sacrifices (recorded in July 2018). With accompanist Keith Swallow, he released a CD, Let Beauty Awake, which features English Song Cycles by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth and Finzi. In September 2018 Thom performed Schumann’s song cycle, Dichterliebe with accompanist Chris Pulleyn and they repeated the partnership in 2021 with a performance of Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel.
As Musical Director of Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, a position he has held since 1989, Thom has enabled the choir to achieve musical standards which have taken them to unrivalled levels of success. They twice won the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and in May 2007 won the International Male Voice Choir competition at the Male Voice Choral Festival in Cornwall. Thom is now regularly in demand to adjudicate and to lead vocal workshops, singing days and choral courses across the country, both with adults and young people.
Thom was delighted to be appointed as Musical Director to the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir in September this year and conducted his first concerts with them in Wakefield Cathedral in the Autumn of 2023. He looks forward to many more successful performances and other exciting challenges that lie ahead.
Along with his wife, Lynn Hudson, Thom is also a director of the Harrogate Festival Choral Course (HFCC). He has conducted performances of both traditional and contemporary works including Haydn Creation; Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle; Mendelssohn St Paul and Elijah; Gounod Messe Solennelle de Sainte-Cécile; Walton Belshazzar’s Feast; Britten The Company of Heaven; Janacek Otčenáš; Alexander L’Estrange Zimbe!; Ola Gjeilo Sunrise Mass and Paul Carr Seven Last Words from the Cross. The D & S Times wrote: “In this feast of music, the HFCC was eloquently and sensitively conducted by Thom Meredith… who has a wealth of experience in teaching, directing and arranging.” (Irene MacDonald).
Thom and Lynn’s son, Harry met his future wife Ellie whilst they were studying at the Royal Northern College of Music (percussion and saxophone respectively). Harry is now an internationally recognised DJ who works alongside Ellie (“Ellie Sax”) at venues ranging from the Piece Hall in Halifax, to clubs in Ibiza and Formula 1 after-parties in Singapore!