THOMAS F. SAVOY - Composer, Conductor, Organist
Thomas F. Savoy is founder/artistic director of the Carolina Catholic Chorale and president of Savoy Music House – a company of musical services – both based in Charlotte, NC. He is currently Director of Sacred Music and Liturgical Events at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, NC, director of music (Magister Capellae) of St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Charlotte, NC, as well as a liturgical music consultant at large. Previously, he served as Director of Music of the historic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, NY. Mr. Savoy is director emeritus of the New York Catholic Chorale, past conductor of the RPI Chorale, the Fort Orange Singers of Albany, NY and has served as an adjunct member of the music faculty at Schenectady County Community College.
During his ten year tenure as founder/conductor of the New York Catholic Chorale (1997-2007), Mr. Savoy had the singular opportunity to conduct the great orchestral Masses of the Roman Catholic tradition, Renaissance polyphony, and Gregorian chant in the context of the Latin liturgy as well as in concerts. He continues this work with the both the Carolina Catholic Chorale and the Savoy Ensemble.
During his ten year tenure as conductor of the New York Catholic Chorale, Mr. Savoy had the singular opportunity to conduct the great orchestral Masses of the Roman Catholic tradition, Renaissance polyphony and Gregorian chant in the context of the Latin liturgy as well as in concerts. He continues this work with the Savoy Ensemble and as founder/artistic director of the Carolina Catholic Chorale, a new choral venture based in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA).
Mr. Savoy has been the recipient of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians’ composition award as well as several grants and commissions; he is also a sought after arranger of both sacred and popular music. He and partner/lyricist Byron Nilsson have done extensive cabaret work featuring the songs of Flanders & Swann, Noel Coward, Tom Lehrer, and many others. They have appeared at Café Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY, the historic Van Dyck Club in Schenectady, NY and the Mohonk Festival of the Arts in New Paltz, NY. They have authored several original works including two musicals – “A Thousand Friends” and “iFind You @ Last.” His sacred choral works are published by G.I.A. Publications, World Library Publications both of Chicago, and his own company of Savoy Music House.
Collaborations with poet/librettist Bertrand T. Fay have yielded multiple works: Canticles for Advent: the Season of the Now, the first chancel opera on Joseph of Nazareth – The Agon of Saint Joseph, and the recently completed Iliad for Emalie. His Three Songs on Shakespeare Texts were premiered at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on March 18th, 2010. His Songs for Jack, a song cycle for baritone was premiered in September of 2012 in Schenectady, NY as part of the Musicians of Ma’alwyck subscription concert series. He has recently completed two song cycles: Masefield Songs for tenor on the poems of John Masefield and Songs on Poems of Hart Crane for counter-tenor, both of which were premiered in 2018. Songs by Me - For You - a CD of several of his song cycles and individual songs was released in December of 2018.
As an organ recitalist and piano/organ accompanist, he has played both concerts and cabaret venues throughout the Northeast, Florida, Milwaukee, New York City, and Charlotte, NC. He has also been a featured artist in providing organ and piano accompaniment to classic silent movie films.
Mr. Savoy lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Deborah.