Thomas Edmonds (tenor)

Thomas James Edmonds, (AM, BA, DipEd, DipT, MACE), is an Australian singer who was born in South Australia, Australia. He graduated from the University of Adelaide and the Adelaide Teachers College with a Diploma of Teaching and Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In 1961 he became a foundation member of the staff of Westminster School in Marion, and in 1965, he was appointed Deputy Headmaster of the School.

Edmonds began his singing studies in Australia in 1960 and, in 1970, he continued both singing and education studies in England and Europe.

An internationally renowned opera singer, he has appeared in oratorios and many operas, including Mozart operas Don Giovanni (as "Don Ottavio"), and The Abduction From the Seraglio (as "Belmonte"), amongst others.

He also appeared in State Opera of South Australia production of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera "H.M.S. Pinafore" as Ralph Rackstraw, alongside Dennis Olsen and Judith Henley. The production was broadcast, throughout Australia, as a simultaneous television and stereo radio broadcast, by the ABC.

Edmonds has sung in opera at Covent Garden and the Edinburgh Festival and has appeared with the BBC as well as appearing in concert in the UK and Europe.

Edmonds won eight successive Showcase TV series Grand Finals (beginning with Showcase 68), in which he won both the judges' vote and the television viewers' vote).

Edmonds won the Shell Aria contest, run in conjunction with the 1969 Australian National Eisteddfod, Canberra after two years' contention as runner-up.[1]

Edmonds received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1982[2] and was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours.[3]

He was one of the judges at the 51st Adelaide Eisteddfod in April 2006.