About St David's Day: Celebrating Mansel Thomas | RWCMD
Centred around the music of Mansel Thomas, his contemporaries and his influence on Welsh musical life, the College's music department present an afternoon of Welsh music to celebrate the cultural life of our musical nation.
On St David’s Day, we celebrate voices that shaped Welsh culture—and Mansel Thomas (1909–1986) stands proudly among them. A composer, organist, and educator from Swansea, Thomas devoted his life to Welsh music, blending deep respect for tradition with a modern, expressive voice.
He’s especially remembered for his choral and sacred music, much of it written in Welsh, which helped keep the language and its musical heritage vibrant in the 20th century. As an organist at St Mary’s Church in Swansea and a tireless teacher, he influenced generations of musicians across Wales.
St David’s Day is about hiraeth, heritage, and pride—and Mansel Thomas embodied all three. His music continues to resonate in Welsh choirs and churches, a reminder that culture lives on when it’s sung, taught, and shared.
Tickets: £8 - £16
RWCMD – Dora Stoutzker Hall
