John Ashton Thomas (1961-2021) composed several hundred pieces either for performance or commercial use, and has contributed as a composer or orchestrator to the scores of over 140 feature films. He orchestrated and conducted the Oscar-winning score for Black Panther and arranged more than twenty pieces for the Academy Awards ceremonies in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
From 1994 John was a teacher in the composition faculty at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He also taught at the Academy's Jazz department for 12 years, where he was made an honorary associate in 2004. As a conductor he worked with Diana Ross, Michael Bublé and Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, amongst others.
John wrote music that has been heard on dozens of TV productions including Country File, Top Gear, Coast and Oprah. His concert music has been performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (Proms 2018), the South Bank Centre, the Barbican, and at Glastonbury Festival. As a pianist, John has performed at Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 club in London, as well as Harvelle’s in Los Angeles.