Stuart Thompson has been the Executive Music Lead for the Warwick Schools Foundation for just under three years, working with the schools within the Foundation, our partners "The Orchestra of the Swan" and the wider community including leading our project "Warwick A Singing Town" to develop the best possible musical opportunities and experiences for students across Warwick and beyond.

Music has been a major part of his life from an early age, beginning as a chorister at Winchester Cathedral and leading to his further education at the Royal Academy of Music becoming the first Postgraduate in Church Music, studying composition with Francis Grier, organ with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent and choral conducting with Patrick Russill and David Hill as well as being composer in residence at Westminster Cathedral.

His compositions have won several national awards and have been performed and recorded by The BBC Singers and The Bach Choir as well as being broadcast regularly on national and international radio and television.

Stuart became the Director of Music for the Cathedral and Diocese of Leeds where he established the first Girls choir in a Catholic Cathedral in England. This has now developed into one of the largest choral programmes for young people in the country. During this time, he worked at the University of Huddersfield, directed numerous choral societies and regularly appeared as a jazz singer with "Something Else"!

He then moved into working in schools full time, beginning as Assistant Director of Music and Head of Musical Theatre at Caterham School whilst completing his MBA in School Leadership at the Institute of Education. He became a Governor at Warlingham School during this period, and he remains a Governor in a large secondary school in Loughborough to this day.

School leadership positions then followed, including Deputy Headships at Queen Margaret's School, York and Loughborough High School, the latter including a spell as Acting Head.

Stuart is really looking forward to welcoming you all as the first ever students on our new Orchestral Summer Courses and can't wait to see and hear what we are able to produce musically by the end of each course.

David Tibbitts is Head of Brass & Music Outreach at Warwick School, leading over 130 young brass musicians and directing a vibrant programme of ensembles, concerts and outreach initiatives.

A trumpet player since the age of 10, David was awarded a scholarship to the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before continuing his studies there. During his time at RBC, he performed with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and was coached by world-class artists including Dave Holland, Maria Schneider and Elliot Mason. He has also toured nationally with the UK’s leading folk ensemble, appearing at major festivals such as Cropredy, Shambala and Towersey.

As a performer, David has appeared across the UK and Europe at some of the world’s most iconic events, including Glastonbury Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and toured with the England Cricket Team. He has also performed live on radio and was featured as a soloist on BBC 2 in the presence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Now an in-demand conductor and educator, David is passionate about inspiring the next generation, regularly leading youth ensembles and large-scale concerts, including performances at Symphony Hall. His work is driven by a commitment to making high-level music-making exciting, accessible and unforgettable for young musicians.

If your son or daughter is interested in being part of something special, the new Warwick Schools Foundation Orchestral Summer Courses promise an exciting, engaging experience, bringing together like-minded musicians to develop confidence, creativity and top-tier musicianship. David has the absolute pleasure of conducting and serving as Musical Director for the courses, working alongside a team of outstanding tutors who are among the very best musicians in the industry.