An Organ Recital by Thomas Hawkes. Thomas was born in Paderborn, Germany, where he had his first organ lessons with Ulrich Schneider and Andreas Konrad as well as his first organist role at St Christophers Garrison Church. He then spent two years learning the organ with Jonathan Lilley at Ely Cathedral before going to the University of York where he completed his Music BA and Postgraduate Diploma in 2017. Following this, Thomas held posts at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, King Edwards School, Witley, and St Davids Cathedral (where he was the acting Assistant Director of Music). He subsequently spent a year studying Church Music at the Hochschule fr Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau, where he studied organ with Matthias Maierhofer and David Franke, as well as choral conducting with Frank Markowitsch. From September 2023, Thomas was Chapel Organist at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire. In July 2024 he was appointed Organist and Choir Master at Cirencester Parish Church. Thomas has performed on television and radio for BBC Wales and is featured on the St Davids Cathedral choir 2022 Christmas CD. Thomas frequently works as a choral conductor and accompanist, and has worked with ensembles including Leeds Festival Chorus, Stowmarket Chorale and the University of York Choir. Thomas is also a regular accompanist for the Freiburger Mnster choirs. Outside of music, he enjoys reading about history and watching Doctor Who.

Thomas Hawkes' concert will be the fourth in a series of five concerts by different artists during The Cirencester International Organ Festival. The festival will run for five nights in July and August 2026 at Cirencester Parish Church of St John Baptist, as follows:
Friday 31st July - Stefan Donner (Vienna)
Saturday 1st August - Organ Festival Chorus
Friday 7th August - John Challenger (Salisbury Cathedral)
Friday 14th August - Thomas Hawkes (Cirencester)
Friday 21st August - Matthias Maierhofer (Freiburg im Breisgau).