Thomas, Harold

1834-1885

 

Pianist, composer and teacher; born at Cheltenham, England. At the Royal Academy of Music he studied violin under Henry Blagrove, and theory under Cipriani Potter, and he was the favorite pupil of Sterndale Bennett. He made his debut as a concert player at a Royal Academy concert in 1850, eight years later playing for the Queen at Windsor, and in 1864 he played Bennett's First Concerto at a Philharmonic concert. He was professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music, and was immensely successful as a teacher. Among his compositions are the overture, As You Like It; overture for a comedy; Mountain, Lake and Moorland. He also wrote some pianomusic and songs.