"On The Rhodes" Biography:
Glenville Davies Thomas

Glenville Davies Thomas had a rich heritage in choral music. His roots went back to Wales, "Land of Song," where he was born near Swansea, South Wales.

As a young boy, he and his parents moved to the United States and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he sang in church choirs and as tenor soloist. He received his education at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, Capital University and The Ohio State University.

As a soloist, Thomas appeared with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, in concert at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City, in "La Boheme" as the tenor lead, Rudolpho, and other principle operatic roles. He also appeared in numerous New York City church presentations.

For almost thirty-seven years Thomas worked as a music director and educator. In 1990, he retired as Supervisor of Vocal Music for the Zanesville City Schools and director of choirs at Zanesville High School. He developed the four-part choirs to sing in sets of quartets, which produces a fine stereo sound.

As founder and director of the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir, he gained international fame. Besides taking a group on a European concert tour each summer, he developed the first marching choir ever to participate for its fourth time in the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

Professional affiliations included the National Association of Choral Conductors, Ohio State Teachers Association and Music Educators Conference. He was also a thirty-second degree Mason.

For his leadership as director of choirs and as an educator he has received recognition including the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music Alumni Award, Ohio Newspaper Association Governor's Award, Ohio Music Education Association 25-year Award and the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame Award. His hometown honored him as the Grand Marshall of the 1986 Zane's Trace Commemoration Parade. In March 1990, he was recipient of the Search for Excellence Award in Zanesville/Muskingum County.

In addition to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir, he directed the State FFA Chorus in Ohio, the Greater Zanesville Singers and the Aladdin Temple Chanters.

In 1991, Mr. Thomas was elected to the Zanesville City Schools Board of Education.

Mr. Thomas died Friday, December 2, 1991 while preparing for a concert with the Greater Zanesville singers. He was survived by his wife, Mari, two married sons, Richard and Brian, and three young grandsons.

• Obituary

• Farewell