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.