Phillip Thomas

Last updated: 06 April 2009

Phillip Thomas was born in Cilfrew, Neath, and was educated at Neath Boys' Grammar School.

While a student he appeared as piano concerto soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He studied piano and percussion at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he was a Countess of Munster scholar.

Subsequently he studied with Maestro Ubaldo Gardini in London and Bologna and took part in master classes with Pierre Bernac, Geoffrey Parsons and Paul Hamburger.

His prolific concert career includes performances in New York, Sydney, Tokyo, Bayreuth, Vienna, Buenos Aires and the Caribbean, and recital tours of Ireland, the United States and the Far East, with artists including Dame Josephine Barstow, Susan Bullock, Jane Eaglen, Dame Anne Evans, Lesley Garrett, Sergei Leiferkus, Felicity Palmer, Joan Rodgers, and Sir John Tomlinson.

Phillip's career has developed to include conducting and he has conducted Ernani, Rigoletto and La traviata for English National Opera as well as gala concerts with Dennis O'Neill and the RTE Orchestra. In 2008 he conducted Opera Holland Park's acclaimed production of Tosca.

Phillip has been one of the competition's official accompanists since 1995.