Havering Concert Orchestra

 

Leigh ThomasLeigh was born in Neath, South Wales in 1944, and began his musical journey at the age of 11, mastering woodwind, percussion, and conducting. While a student at Neath Grammar School, he performed with the Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, and the Franco-Welsh Students Orchestra.

Leigh attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he earned a BSc. in Physical Geography and Geology, while also conducting the College Orchestra and performing as a soloist. He furthered his education at the University of East London (UEL), where he received an MEd and achieved the LTCL diploma. In 1966, Leigh relocated to East London to pursue a teaching career, where he spent 25 years teaching Economics and 10 years teaching Music, eventually becoming the Deputy Head of the Music Service in Waltham Forest.

As an accomplished oboist, Leigh has played with numerous amateur orchestras, including the Redbridge Youth Orchestra, Forest Philharmonic, Downs Sinfonia, Royal Amateurs, Redbridge Symphony, Brentwood Philharmonic Orchestra, Stevenage Symphony Orchestra, and Malcolm Sargent Symphony Orchestra, among others. His performance repertoire also includes stints with professional ensembles such as the Aminta Chamber Orchestra, Aminta Concert Orchestra, London Cantamus Bach Orchestra, and playing Contrabassoon in the Welsh Chamber Orchestra.

Having performed as a guest saxophonist in the Bolero in 1995, in 1996 Leigh joined the Havering Concert Orchestra and served as Principal Oboist until 2021, when health issues prevented him from continuing. In our Summer 1998 Concert, ‘A Musical Fantasy’ Leigh and his daughter Maria played Jean Françaix’s L’Horloge de Flore (The Flower Clock), and in our Summer 2015 Concert ‘Spring Fantasy’ he played Telemann’s Concerto for Oboe d’amore. From 1996 it became a family affair when Leigh and Maria played oboe and wife Georgina played percussion.

Leigh’s musical versatility extends beyond the oboe, as he has also played timpani and percussion with the UEL Concert Band, performing on two concert tours to Germany. He spent a decade playing in the swing band, ‘Moonlight Serenaders’, and led the semi-professional saxophone quartet, ‘Sax4U’.

As a conductor, Leigh has directed orchestras, operas, wind bands, brass bands, and musicals. Highlights of his conducting career include winning a gold award at the 1988/89 National Concert Band Festival with the Redbridge Symphonic Wind Band and conducting an all-British concert with the Brentwood Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013, before returning to his first love – the oboe.

Last Updated 8/10/2024