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John Thomas was a Welsh harpist and composer who lived from 1826 to 1913. He was born in Bridgend, Wales, to a family of musicians. His father, John Thomas Sr., was a harpist and his mother, Ann Thomas, was a singer. John Thomas Jr. showed an early interest in music and began playing the harp at the age of five. At the age of nine, John Thomas was sent to London to study with the renowned harpist Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. Bochsa was impressed with John's talent and took him on as a pupil. John studied with Bochsa for six years, during which time he became a virtuoso harpist. In 1843, John Thomas made his debut as a soloist at the Royal Philharmonic Society in London. He was only 17 years old at the time, but his performance was well-received and he was praised for his technical skill and musicality. This performance launched his career as a soloist and he went on to perform throughout Europe and the United States. In 1851, John Thomas was appointed harpist to Queen Victoria. He held this position for 35 years and was highly respected by the royal family. He performed at many royal events, including the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. John Thomas was also a prolific composer. He wrote over 100 works for the harp, including concertos, sonatas, and arrangements of traditional Welsh melodies. His compositions were well-regarded and he was considered one of the leading harp composers of his time. In addition to his solo career, John Thomas was also a member of several chamber ensembles. He played with the London String Quartet and the Royal String Quartet, among others. He also collaborated with other musicians, including the violinist Joseph Joachim and the pianist Clara Schumann. John Thomas was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1862, he was awarded the gold medal at the International Exhibition in London for his contributions to the harp. He was also awarded the Order of the Red Eagle by the King of Prussia in 1876. John Thomas continued to perform and compose until his death in 1913. He was 87 years old at the time of his death and had been a prominent figure in the world of classical music for over 70 years. His legacy lives on through his compositions and recordings, which continue to be studied and performed by harpists around the world.

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