James Thomas studied music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was Organ Scholar and Music Exhibitioner, receiving organ tuition from Nicolas Kynaston on Tuesday afternoons, and gaining the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists in 1985, winning the Dixon Prize for extemporisation.

Following a year at Homerton College studying for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education, James moved to Caen, Normandy, for two years, as assistant teacher of choral singing at the Conservatoire, assisting Robert Weddle (formerly Coventry Cathedral). During this time he studied the organ in Rouen with Louis Thiry, also on Tuesday afternoons, gaining a Premier Prix de Perféctionnement in 1988.

James was appointed Assistant Organist at Blackburn Cathedral in September 1988, assisting David Cooper. He was later also appointed Assistant Director of Music at St Wilfrid’s High School, assisting Howard Seymour. In 1991 he moved to Chichester Cathedral as Assistant Organist, assisting Alan Thurlow, and Director of Music at the Prebendal School (the Cathedral’s Choir School).

From September 1997 until February 2020, James was Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, recruiting and nurturing hundreds of singers and directing thousands of choral services. Among his proudest moments during this time was to have provided music for the celebrations for the completion of the Cathedral Tower in 2005, hosting the Royal Maundy Service in 2009 and overseeing the completion and installation of the Harrison & Harrison Cathedral Organ in 2010.

James was, and may be again, a keen runner and took part in two London Marathons, raising several thousands of pounds for the local charities in 2009 and 2010. He also much enjoys watching Test cricket, is a great Francophile, an obedient gardener and a grand amateur of all things œnological.

James and Katharine were married in Chichester in 1993. Katharine is herself an extremely accomplished musician and experienced singing teacher. She numbers choristers past and present amongst her dozens of weekly singing and piano pupils and was of immense help both musically and pastorally in the running of the Cathedral Music Department.

They have three grown-up daughters: Charlotte, Eleanor and Harriet. They also have two cats: Jeoffry and Jasper; and a dog: Bertram Wilberforce.