Julian Thomas

Julian Thomas 

Julian Thomas became Director of the Edington Music Festival in 2004, but has been participating in the festival since 1987, first as a treble and more recently as a member of Schola and as one of the organists.

He gained his early musical training as a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral, and then as a music and academic scholar at Charterhouse, before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge, to read Music as Organ Scholar. Whilst there he directed both the Chapel Choir and the College Mixed Choir, and studied the organ with David Sanger. After graduating, Julian moved to Lincoln Cathedral as Second Assistant Organist, and in July 2000 he became a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. From 2001 to 2007, he was Assistant Organist and Director of the Girls’ Choir at Norwich Cathedral, during which time he appeared on both radio and television accompanying and conducting choirs. He has been involved in several CD recordings with choirs in Cambridge, Lincoln and Norwich. Julian is currently Organist & Choirmaster at Tonbridge School in Kent (a post he took up in September 2007), teaching music, directing the Chapel choir, and playing the magnificent 4-manual Marcussen organ.

In addition to his school duties, Julian regularly accompanies soloists and choirs, and gives organ recitals: recent venues having included Westminster Abbey, Southwark, Blackburn, Manchester and Norwich Cathedrals, and the Temple Church, London. He has participated in a number of masterclasses with, amongst others, Naji Hakim, Nicolas Kynaston and Thomas Trotter. He is also involved with the RSCM both as an examiner for chorister awards and leading choral workshops.

Julian is married to Ellen, a doctor and keen amateur musician, and they have young son, Dominic, who made his first appearance at the festival aged two weeks!