Thomas Gaynor is a concert organist, church musician, and educator based in Philadelphia. He is currently Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Church, Locust Street. He was an assistant organist at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Macy’s until its recent closure, and he regularly performs at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, homes of the two largest pipe organs in the world. He maintains a lively studio as an adjunct instructor of organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Recital engagements have taken him to six continents, performing in such venues as Notre Dame de Paris, Sydney Town Hall, Catedral Primada de Colombia in Bogotá, Tokyo-Musashino Civic Cultural Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

A native of Wellington, New Zealand, Thomas earned his undergraduate degree from the New Zealand School of Music, while holding organ scholarships at the Wellington Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul as well as St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church. He graduated from David Higgs’s studio at the Eastman School of Music with a DMA and the school’s highest honor, the Artist’s Certificate. Competition wins include the Fort Wayne National Organ Playing Competition in 2014, the Sydney International Organ Competition in 2015, The Bach-Liszt Internationaler Orgelwettbewerb Erfurt/Weimar in 2015, then in 2017 Thomas was presented with the Gold Medal and Audience Prize at the St. Albans International Organ Competition.

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Festive Overture, Op. 96 (trans. Thomas Gaynor)

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)
Sicilienne from Pelléas & Mélisande (trans. Thomas Ospital)

John Williams (b. 1932)
Raiders March from Indiana Jones (trans. Thomas Gaynor)

Alan Menken (b. 1949)
Medley from Aladdin (trans. Thomas Gaynor)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Vocalise (trans. Thomas Gaynor)

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin (trans. Westbrook)

Alfred Hollins (1865-1942)
Scherzo

Edwin H. Lemare (1865-1934)
Concertstück in the form of a Polonaise, Op. 80

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
The Carnival of the Animals (trans. Thomas Gaynor)
V. The Elephant
VI. Kangaroos
VII. Aquarium
X. Aviary
XII. Fossils
XIII. Swan
XIV. Finale

Johannes Pachelbel (1653-1706)
‍ ‍Chaconne in F Minor, T. 206

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Symphony for Organ No. 6, Op. 42 No. 2
I. Allegro