Warren Thomson OAM

(Australia)

Warren Thomson is a graduate of Melbourne University, where he studied under Roy Shepherd (a pupil of Alfred Cortot) and became the first Music Director of Trinity Grammar School, Melbourne, which he developed into one of Australia's leading music schools. He became Director of Studies for the Australian Music Examinations Board in 1972. He has been actively involved with the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia since its incep­tion and is the Artistic Director. He was the foundation Head of the School of Extension Studies of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a position he held from 1974 to 1995.

He was Chairperson of the Australian Music Examinations Board in New South Wales 1980-95 and also Federal Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Federal Examiner and is Director of the City of Sydney Cultural Council and Chairperson of its Music Committee.

In 1975 he initiated a program of workshops and seminars in Sydney and the country areas of NSW and has made over 30 recordings of piano music for teachers and students, as well as giving many radio broadcasts in Australia and abroad, including a recording of the piano music of Khachaturian in 1978, the year of the composer's death, for Moscow radio. His publications, totaling over 50, have received critical acclaim-both nationally and internationally, especially the editions of Mozart Sonatas and the Well-Tempered Clavier, Inventions and Sinfonias of Bach.

He has served on a number of International Juries, including those for the Sydney International Piano Competition, the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, the National Concerto Competition in Christchurcn, New Zealand, the UNISA Transnet in Pretoria, Hamamatsu, Horowitz, Krainev, Jose Iturbi, and Cologne.

He is currently Artistic Director of Professional Development at the Australian Institute of Music.In 1987 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to music, and in 1995 was made an honorary member the Tchaikovsky Society of Russia.