Thomas, Lewis William

1826-1896

 

English concert singer; born at Bath; studied singing under Randegger and Bianchi Taylor, and in 1850 became lay clerk in Worcester Cathedral, and two years later master of choristers. He sang at provincial festivals at Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford, and in 1854 made his London debut in the Messiah at St. Martin's Hall. The following year he sang with the Sacred Harmony Society, and in 1856 on receiving an appointment to St. Paul's Cathedral he settled in London. In 1857 he sang for a short time in opera, under the direction of Randegger, and that same year became gentleman of the Chapel Royal, which position he held until 1887. He was editor of The Lute for several years, also musical critic on the Daily Telegraph and Musical World.

 

His son, Henry W. Thomas, was born at Bath in 1848, and became professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, and his son, Frank L. Thomas, is organist and conductor at Bromley.