Tom Buchanan OAM
Musical Director
Tom is a well-known and highly regarded Melbourne-based choral conductor, currently directing Excelsis, the Australian Welsh Male Choir and the Yarra Philharmonic Choir. Tom has been the Musical Director of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale (Frankston South), Casey Choir (Berwick) and Out of the Ordinary (Monash University). He also assists with choirs at both Eltham College and Kingswood College (Box Hill) where he currently works, primarily, as a piano teacher. In recent years Tom has conducted choral performances extensively throughout Australia, as well as performing internationally in the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the USA. In 2017 Tom was invited to conduct the Male Choirs Association of Australia biennial festival in Wollongong and he is proud to have been invited to take on the role of Deputy Conductor for the 2018 London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs, to be held in the Royal Albert Hall, in October. In addition to his experience as a choral conductor, Tom has also had the opportunity to conduct both professional and community orchestras in some of Melbourne’s major performance venues, including St Paul’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Frankston Arts Centre.
Tom also composes and arranges choral music, and has had his work published both in Australia (Willow Publishing, NSW) and in the United Kingdom (Banks Music Publications, York). Tom’s compositions and arrangements have received performances in Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the USA.
Tom completed his music studies at the School of Music – Conservatorium of Monash University, where he majored in classical piano performance. During his studies Tom was the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including the Joan Earle Prize for Excellence in Piano Studies (2002 and 2004) and the first prize in the Monash University Concerto Competition (2002 and 2006). He has worked extensively, both within Australia and abroad, as a solo pianist, chamber musician and accompanist.
In 2013 Tom founded Excelsis in an effort to bring high-quality choral music to parish churches within Melbourne, and he has found it most rewarding to witness the establishment and development of the choir over the past few years. As a passionate supporter of community music, Tom enjoys the challenge of working with all of the choristers at Excelsis to produce exciting and engaging choral music.
Kerith Cummins
Principal Accompanist
Kerith Cummins is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, having majored in piano performance. She has always had a love of accompanying and has served as accompanist to the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society, as well as accompanying many choirs throughout Melbourne including the Welsh Male Choir, Chime Choir, Victorian Boys’ Choir, Victoria Chorale and Casey Choir.
As an accompanist, Kerith has recorded for ABC-FM radio. She was repetiteur at the Victorian College of the Arts Opera Studio for many years, has played for many musical productions and accompanied numerous singers and instrumentalists, both for exams and in recital.
Simon Loveless
Accompanist