Kelvin Thomas
Kelvin Skidmore Matthewson Thomas (14 September 191914 June 2019) was a Welsh conductor, composer, baritone, and author. He was the founder and conductor of The Silver Ring Choir of Bath, and one of the founders and first music director of the Bradford-on-Avon Choral Society. Background Born in Grangetown, Cardiff, Wales, Kelvin was one of the five children of the coal merchant Charles Thomas and his wife Lena Thomas. He received musical training from an early age from his musical parents. As a boy soprano from the age of five, in 1931 (aged twelve) he had a test recording for the Concord record label (the recording was never released). In 1927, the Thomas family removed from Cardiff to Bathampton near Bath, Somerset, and were later involved in the building of Bathampton Methodist Church. During his early years of performances, Thomas once performed in the same concert as the American actor and bass baritone Paul Robeson at the Colston Hall, Bristol. Having continued his musical studies (also playing the violin and piano) throughout his early years, and his interest in singing continued as a baritone (rather than soprano). After a period employed in his father's business as a coal merchant, he worked