Holy Trinity Church's new Director of Music

Holy Trinity Church on the Town Bridge has announced its new Director of Music is James Lloyd Thomas whose role will be to develop and enhance the music with the choir, public events and concerts.

His wife Lizzie is a talented soprano and harpist in her own right.

James and Lizzie are looking to recruit people for the choir and also have plans to set up a separate youth choir.

They want to do outreach work, are open to performing with other choirs for special events, and look forward to making contact with local schools to promote the value of music into the wider community.

As part of their plans for recruitment and restructuring, the church is pleased to be in a position to offer choral and organ scholarships every year for local young people, starting as soon as possible.

As a result of Covid, Holy Trinity has adapted to providing online services and programmes to which James and Lizzie have made a regular contribution. These are set to continue along with the regular attended services at church.

James, who has previously worked in New Zealand, Hong Kong and the West Midlands, said: “Since our arrival at the beginning of August, Lizzie and I have found the church welcoming, supportive and friendly. And as the church’s strapline says, 'bridging the gap between the church and the community' we intend to do this through music."

Canon Andrew Gough, Vicar at Holy Trinity, said: “We are aware that James has a great deal of experience in music from right across the spectrum. He has taught, examined and been a conductor of several orchestras as well as a piano teacher and church director of music and will be a great asset to the life if the church."

James and Lizzie are also available to play and sing for weddings, receptions, funerals and baptisms as is the choir. They both host private tuition with organ, piano, harp and singing lessons.

For more information email music@holytrinityweymouth.org call 01305 760354 or visit www.holytrinityweymouth.org