Biography

Thomas Bell is a composer, choir director, and teacher. His choral music is published by Oxford University Press, Boosey and Hawkes, Alliance, Hinshaw, and others.His early musical education was as a boy chorister at Salisbury Cathedral, England, where in addition to singing for the daily choral services he played the flute, violin and piano. His subsequent musical studies at Durham University, were augmented by flute lessons with two wonderful teachers: Patricia Morris (BBC Symphony) and David Haslam (Northern Sinfonia of England). Tom then taught music at several schools in Oxford and London, including New College Choir School and the Dragon School, Oxford. During this time, he directed several professional instrumental and choral ensembles specializing in early music.

Tom later immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where together with Susan, they have lived and worked and raised their family for over twenty-five years.He has had the pleasure of conducting several wonderful choirs including the church choirs of St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto and St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville. Tom directed the 150-voice Mississauga Children’s Choir for sixteen years, winning many competitions including the CBC Choral Competition (children’s choirs category), and touring across Canada and abroad.Thomas is Director of Music at St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church, Toronto, a large downtown Anglican parish where he oversees a large music programme, conducts the semi-professional choir, and plays the 7,5000-pipe organ.

Commissions:
If you would like to commission a work for your choir, you are welcome to contact Tom to discuss your project. Commissioning music includes many artistic considerations: the text, voicing and instrumentation, duration and level of difficulty. Planning ahead is the key!Contact Tom at thomasbellmusic100@gmail.com