Musical Team

Dr. Mike Thomas Phd MA M.B.E

Musical Director

Mike was born in Tonmawr, a small village in the hills above Neath. He has been involved in music all his life: as a member of the West Glamorgan Youth orchestra and choir, a church organist, a soloist with various Operetta Societies and, for the last 25 years, Musical Director of the Pelenna Valley Male Voice Choir based in his home village of Tonmawr.

Another of Mike’s other passions is rugby. He gained 6 school boy caps as captain of the Welsh Schools rugby team, went on to captain Loughborough Colleges and is now the President of Tonmawr RFC.

A Craft teacher by profession he worked at Blaengwawr Comprehensive School for 31 years, retiring in 2014 as deputy headteacher. Mike was passionate about his subject as means of engaging all pupils in learning. This theme formed the basis of his Doctorate awarded from Loughborough University in 2008.

Mike is married to Margaret and they have two sons:  William, a former organ scholar at Oxford, and Jac, who has recently been awarded a scholarship to study trumpet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. It is a musical family underpinned by Margaret’s unerring support and understanding.

Retirement has brought opportunity to pursue his musical interests. He was invited last year to conduct the recently formed Cwmdare Voices. Mike is honoured and delighted to to lead Cwmbach Male Choir and hopes that his involvement will make a positive contribution to Cwmbach’s proud history of music making.

Mike was awarded an M.B.E. in the Kings New Years Honours 2023

Jayne Thomas - Accompanist

Originally from Neath but now living in Cardiff Jayne is a Music Graduate of Goldsmiths College, London. She teaches piano, keyboard, music theory and groupsinging privately, at schools and Adult Education Centres.

 Jayne is involved with local Operatic Societies and it was at "Opera Mint" that she renewed an association with Emyr Wyn Roberts who was Musical Director at Cwmbach Male Choir at the time. This meeting resulted in her being introduced to Cwmbach Male Choir. From that time on Jayne has grown from strength to strength as accompanist to Cwmbach Male Choir.

Jayne, a highly competent soloist on piano in her own right, has also delighted audiences with her classical and modern repertoire.

Jayne frequently accompanies artists appearing with the Choir throughout the United Kingdom and on regular tours abroad.