What is your name?
Tom Jones. Before you say it, I know, and yes, I do sing. Please, no (more) jokes.
What is your role within BMYP?
Musical Director
How long have you been a member of the group?
I began in December 2024 with my first production being Matilda The Musical which I absolutely loved.
Can you describe some of your key responsibilities?
As musical director, I am responsible for all aspects of the music for every one of our shows and I work closely with Vicki – our director and choreographer – to ensure the music supports what she is trying to achieve as director.
In terms of specifically what I do in rehearsals, after a vocal warm up, I teach everyone – principals and full cast – the songs, making sure they know the music extremely well, what harmony parts they are singing, when they’re supposed to be singing and also not singing, ensuring everyone understands how their part fits into the overall show. For principal parts, as well as learning the music, we work in more depth and detail on expression, communication and if there’s time, vocal technique.
I am also involved in casting parts for each new show we do, as well as being on the audition panel for new members who want to join BMYP.
How does your role contribute to the overall success of the group?
I like to make sure anyone I’m working with feels confident and believes in themselves so that by the time we come to show week, everyone can trust in all the work we have done and consequently, fulfil their potential. During performances, although we usually perform with a backing track as opposed to a live band, I direct the performers during all the songs, mouthing words, making sure the singing stays in time and doing everything I can to make sure that everyone can perform as freely and with as much confidence possible.
I’m very lucky to work alongside our fantastic acting coach, Chris Parslow and our extraordinary director, Vicki Klein, who I continue to learn from each week. Between the three of us, I think we make a pretty good creative team!
What experiences do you have outside of BMYP?
Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember and since the age of 22, I have been a professional musician as a conductor, singer, songwriter, arranger, teacher and trumpet player.
I took up the trumpet at age 8 and piano age 10 and spent my school years participating in musical activities, playing and singing in school orchestras, bands and choirs, working up to county level and then finally gaining a place on the trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. This led on to me studying the trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before going on to play trumpet professionally for over 10 years. In that time, I broadcast for radio and television including at the BBC Proms and performed in all of the UK’s major concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the Symphony Hall Birmingham.
During my time as a trumpet player and teacher, I also worked extensively teaching whole class music in schools, always enjoying working with young people.
In 2008 I founded Out There Music Bristol with one community choir of 20 people and just 7 years later, it comprised two community choirs in North and South Bristol, a chamber choir, a children’s choir and an orchestra, comprised of over 250 people across a spectrum of ages from 7-70+. We performed several sold out concerts at St. George’s Bristol and I conducted all the groups from the piano or the podium as well as arranging much of the music myself.
Since having two children and also Covid, Out There Music Bristol is smaller than it was a few years ago but still going strong!
I have trained extensively in the Estill Voice Model at the Royal Academy of Music in London and I use this depth of knowledge to teach how the voice works and the best way to utilise it.
I am currently recording my own album which I hope to release and perform in the not-too-distant future and I am really enjoying bringing over 20 years of experience as a professional musician to BMYP!
Something interesting About you
I don’t know if this is interesting, but I like walking in the countryside, especially in the Lake District and Scotland. I also enjoy cycling, golf and tennis. This is more interesting – I once went to David Attenborough’s house to have tea and cake!
