Welcome to Tomas Music School

SPECIALISE IN GUITAR, UKULELE, etc.

Nothing excites us more than inspiring and nurturing music for all ages. We guide beginners to professional level and to achieve diplomas from recognized institutions.

Registered under the Ministry of Education (July 2013), our experience and passionate teachers is there to guide you

Thomas Liauw

 

   

Thomas Liauw obtained his M.A. (music) as a research scholar at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 2002. He graduated with a B.A. (Honours) Degree in Music from Kingston University (London); Licentiate Diploma in teaching from the Trinity College of Music (London) and Music Diploma from the LaSalle College of the Arts (Singapore). His works include arrangements for solo guitar such as Favorite Collections for Solo Guitar Vol 1 & 2 (Pop), Jingle Bell Rock (Christmas Collection) and Guitars in Harmony (Ensemble Pieces).

He successfully completed his first recording in 1990 titled "Time For Romantic Guitar" which turned out to be a sell out and was reprinted into CDs in 2003. Further to this, he completed a classical CD recording - "Thomas Liauw Plays A. Lauros, F. Terrega, A. Barrios, H. Villa-Lobos & F. Martin. Besides recordings, Thomas has also performed at numerous recitals both internationally and regionally including Iceland, Italy, London, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and more. His other achievements include being a prizewinner at National Music Competition, Singapore Guitar Competitions, the 1991 Golden Kite World Song Festival where he represented Singapore as well as at other classical guitar competitions.

With over three decades of teaching experience, Thomas is well-known for imparting his love of the classical guitar in local Singapore Universities, Tertiary Institutions, Junior Colleges and also guiding budding guitarists. Under his tutelage, many of his students have become professional musicians and some even gone on to win numerous awards such as the Singapore Guitar Festival, Singapore Youth Festival (Gold with Honors Awards) and others.

Besides teaching, Thomas has previously been involved in conducting examinations at music schools such as the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Yamaha Music School; judging at International Music Competitions such as the 2nd Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Guitar Competition and Japan Guitar Concore 06’ in Japan. He also help to increase the awareness of music through his participation in the 2003 Musical Instrument Festival in KL. Thomas has been invited as a guest speaker and performer at summer camps such as the Krzyzowa’s Summer Guitar Camp 03’ (Poland) and the 2007 IZU International Guitar Festival & Summer School (Japan).

In October 2002, he was invited to do a 13-part series on Singapore Radio FM 99.5 called "Strings Attached" covering topics such as guitar history, technique and famous artistes. Following the success of his first series, a second 13-part series was added on to promote guitar music appreciation. In addition, Thomas has been featured in newspapers (Straits Times, Business Times, etc), guitar magazines (Harmony Magazine, Japan; Classical Guitar, UK, etc) and a book/encyclopedia collection of well-known guitarists around the world - "The Classical Guitar - its evolution, players and personalities since 1800"  (5th Edition, Ashley Mark Publishing Company, UK).

To promote and enhance guitar music in his home country Singapore, he set up Tomas Music Consultants Pte Ltd in 1994 which organizes notable recitals and performances by well-known guitarists such as John Williams & Friends, Manuel Barrueco, Kazuhito Yamashita, Paco Pena, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Jorge Morel, Juan Martin, Singapore International Acoustic Guitar Festival and the Annual International Guitar Festival (Singapore) & International Guitar Competitions. Other events also includes violinist Uto Ughi, Orchestra I Solisti Veneti, Tango 2000, Flamenco Passion just to name some. In 2000, Thomas expanded his music business with Tomas Music Centre which stocks fine quality guitars, books and accessories. A collaboration was done with Niibori Guitar Academy, Japan in 2005 forming Niibori Guitar Singapore. He also set up Tomas Music School in 2013 to cater to music education for music enthusiasts and budding musicians.

Mr Liauw was conferred with the highest award in 2014 by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs - "ORDINE DELLA STELLA D'ITALIA" (KNIGHT/STAR OF ITALY). He was also nominated to be entrepreneur of the year in 2014 by SMBA (Small Mediium Business Association) and in 2008 by SOE (Spirit of Enterprise). 

Thomas is eclectic in his interpretations of both classical and contemporary music. Not only is he an exponent of the guitar, he is also in continuous demand as a teacher and performer.