Kelvin Thomson is a professional musician with extensive experience as a music director, vocal coach, session musician (piano/keyboards), and composer and arranger in music theatre, film, TV, and radio. Originally from South Africa, Kelvin has lived and worked in London since 1981.

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 As Music Director, Kelvin has toured with several ‘name’ artists including Celtic Woman – USA (2006) and Riverdance – Europe (2004-5). He was Assistant Conductor to John Jansson on a production of John Adams’ Ceiling/Sky at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (1999) and to Lionel Friend on Opera Omaha’s (USA) production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem Variations (1996). Recent West End Associate Conductor credits include Zorro (2008-9) and Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2009 – 12).

 

Kelvin's opera 'The Silence of the Bees: A Science Opera' was premiered at the opening of the Royal Holloway Science Festival in March 2013. 'Boojum' (2012) for bassoon and orchestra has been nominated for a British Composer Award 2013 in the Making Music category. (see 'News' page for preview score and audio)

 

His incidental music for Theatre Counteract's production of An Arrangement of Shoes, was performed in Bangalore, India in November 2011. The Arrival of the Beat Box for solo soprano voice and speaking body-percussion has been performed in Athens, London and Glasgow.

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Compositions since September 2010 have been performed by: Marilyn Wyers; Danae Eleni; Enrico Bertelli; CHROMA; Duologue (Rachel Broadbent (oboe) and Kevin Vockerodt (piano); and the London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. LCCO recorded Prelude and Interlude from Cha tig Mor in Dec 2010 and nominated the piece for a British Composer Award 2011 in the Making Music category.

 

Kelvin was awarded a PhD in Composition at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL) in 2019, after being awarded a College Research Scholarship in 2010. He holds an MMus in Advanced Musical Studies (Composition) at RHUL and graduated from Middlesex University with a BA Music Degree (first class honours).

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 Recordings as pianist/keyboardist include: Movie Legends – The Music of John Williams – RPO, (2007); Songs My Mother Taught Me - Lorna Luft (2007);  

The Isles of Greece a song cycle by Donald Swann (Classic FM’s record of the month 2000); Awakening (1997) and The Music of Life – Joseph Curiale – RPO (2001).

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He was appointed Head of Barnet Education Arts Trust's A level Music centre in 2016.

 

He is Organist and Director of Music at St John the Evangelist, Friern Barnet and accompanist for the Alyth Choral Society.

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