Our Staff
Thomas' Music employ an eclectic mix of passionate music lovers. Read their personal biographies and feel free to contact them should you have any specific queries within their areas of expertise.
Andrew
Andrew’s interest in music started early and at school he studied clarinet and piano. Later on he added singing and choral conducting whilst studying for his Bachelor of Music at Melbourne University. In 1994, Andrew formed Gloriana, which is now established as one of Melbourne’s finest Chamber Choirs. (www.gloriana.com.au) Andrew’s musical interests range right across the music history timeline and he has special interest in Early Music and Contemporary music- he also knows Mahler’s Symphonies backwards. Andrew also enjoys jazz and popular music, and like Christine, he loves his big-haired divas from the 60’s- most notably Dusty and Petula. Andrew has been a Thomas’ staff member since 1998.
Christine
As a staff member of 30+ years, I have heard much, much, much. My first connection with Thomas' was as a mail order customer in the country, grateful when my requests were tracked down and arrived in the mailbox. Over the years I've gained an appreciation of anything from Monteverdi to Messiaen. Desert island composers would include Vaughan Williams, Debussy, Ravel for starters. There are so many fine performers that have been role models, for instance, the Chopin piano playing of Claudio Arrau to the jazz pianists Dudley Moore, Tony Gould; classical voices of Cathy Berberian, Lucia Popp, Robert Gard; operas of Britten, Janacek, Puccini, R.Strauss; in the jazz world Cleo Laine & John Dankworth to Mark Murphy, Janel Seidel. Then there is Petula, Dusty, and the Kransky Sisters! This is but a small sample from an extensive list in the wide world of music, I could go on... I've also seen a lot of opera, theatre, musicals, ballet, concerts and films. Outside of music, my specialist subject is motional improvisation... which is really music of the body. Oh and catoftheday.com & dailypuppy.com are regular diversions.
Dawn
Dawn has been at Thomas’ for 13 years. She studied Piano (badly) for many years but really came to Classical Music via Ballet. While managing the shop part-time Dawn has a Bed & Breakfast in Maldon which she operates with her husband on the weekends. www.wywurri.com
Elisabeth
Elisabeth has worked at Thomas' for over 20 years and has been Managing Director since 1998. She came to Thomas' with a jazz background, and a passion for the Blue Note and Prestige Milestone labels. She also maintains a strong interest in mainstream classical and opera recordings, and Art House/World DVD. With 2 young children of her own, she is also well equipped to advise on music for different age groups.
Peter
Peter Bakowski has more than 20 years’ experience working in record stores. He’s been listening to jazz for 35 years. Roland Kirk called jazz “Black classical music”. The best of jazz conveys human joy, sorrow, yearning and reflection. It explores, celebrates, ponders and questions. At Thomas’ Peter can help you start or expand your jazz collection and appreciation.
Peter is one of Australia’s most widely published poets. He is the author of three collections of poetry, “In the human night”, “The heart at 3 a.m.” and “Days that we couldn’t rehearse.” Peter specializes in giving poetry reading in private houses to groups of eight or more. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Peter via his email address pbakowski@yahoo.com
Phillip
Phillip’s musical studies began on the clarinet in high-school. He continued this completing a Bachelor of Music performance on clarinet and orchestral conducting at the VCA studying with Craig Hill and Barry Bignell. He was a participant for 6 years in the Symphony Australia Young Conductors Program learning with various teachers and working with numerous orchestras. He has a good knowledge of the orchestral repertoire and also 20th century music. He is currently undertaking a general arts degree at The University of Melbourne.
Matt
Matt is a student at the University of Melbourne studying for a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Commerce degree. Matt had studied violin for 10 years before seeing the light and switching to viola mid-way through 2006. He enjoys listening to pretty much any classical repertoire, though his main interest is 20th century chamber music and symphonic music – Sibelius, Bartok, Shostakovich, Britten and Stravinsky are favourites. He also enjoys 20th century English and French music, and anything with a good viola part, or, better yet, viola solos. Matt dabbles at composition, is a complete cricket tragic, and enjoys breaking into song when the opportunity presents itself.
Matt is available for orchestral work as a freelance violist, as a viola teacher and also plays in a string quartet that can cater for weddings and private functions. He can be contacted at matt.laing1010@gmail.com.