9 Comments

1. 

   Monica McCabe on January 3, 2022 at 6:09 pm

   Such unbelievably sad news. Tom was one of the nicest, most genuine of men and musicians. John thought very highly of him, and although we did not meet often, I can say that I had the most sincere affection for him. Apart from starting and running (with others) the Hertfordshire Music Festival, he conducted a number of excellent amateur orchestras, and held various other positions. During the pandemic he gave a number of on-line talks. One of these was regarding the incidental music for The Tempest written by Sibelius. I know and love the Suites, in an LP recording by Groves, and we had a number of email conversations about the music. He knew it much better than I did, of course, and how much more there was than in the Suites. It was his hope that at some time he would be able to play it in concert. I will miss Tom very much. He was one of those people who make the world a better place.

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2. 

   Edward Clark on January 4, 2022 at 7:55 am

   This borders on tragedy for me.
   Tom was a soul mate and I valued his friendship almost above all others.
   Like Monica we had discussions on the music of Sibelius and I attended concerts where he conducted works by the great Finn.
   I recall his masterful performance of Matthew Taylor’s Third Symphony at SJSS and we collaborated with a performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Efi Christodoulou.
   On a deeply personal level Tom fixed the orchestra for me to make my only conducting assignment as a vanity project in my 50th year.
   I can’t say how sorry I am with this news and I send my condolences to his family who I know he loved above all else in the world.

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     Efi Christodoulou on January 6, 2022 at 12:34 am

     Great sadness is brought to me with this news… It was thanks to Edward Clark, that I had the luck to meet and collaborate with Tom Hammond in 2016 on the Sibelius Concerto. Apart from being a passionate, vivid conductor, he was also an adorable human being. We will never forget you, Tom Hammond. Now you are conducting the music you so much adored, high up in heaven…🕯

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       Phil Hopkins on August 15, 2022 at 8:08 pm

       Tom was a lovely man and fine trombonist. I knew him from shows at the Globe and he was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He will be much missed.

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3. 

   Stuart King on January 7, 2022 at 8:36 pm

   Absolutely stunned and heart-broken to learn of the passing of Tom. We were direct contemporaries and I fondly remember cutting our teeth on a vast array of new music with the Brunel Ensemble under Chris Austin. We worked closely together with his Sound Collective and the inspirational mentor programme he instigated at Trinity Laban. In 2016 we went to Jordan together to work with the Palestine Youth Orchestra. Such was his talent, passion and breadth of interest. A nicer guy you could not hope to meet to boot. He will be greatly missed but I am sure his legacy and memory will endure in all who had the privilege to know him. RIP maestro

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4. 

   Matthew Forbes on January 8, 2022 at 4:07 pm

   Tom was a musicians’ musician. Kind, meticulous, personable, professional and humble. The world is smaller now without him. I’m gutted to hear this news.

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5. 

   Joe Dodd on February 11, 2022 at 10:12 pm

   I Only saw this in the newsletter of the HFOm.Completely shocked.I used to liaise many piano tunings with him for the festival’s condolences to Tom’s family

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6. 

   keith leonard on May 30, 2022 at 8:50 pm

   So very sad

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7. 

   Frances Wilson on September 15, 2022 at 3:01 pm

   A special concert in memory of conductor, Artistic Director and producer Tom Hammond will be held on 30 September at St George’s church, Hanover Square.

   Organised by a group of Tom’s close friends and colleagues, the concert will feature music by Tom’s favourite composer, Jean Sibelius, as well as works by Mozart and Nielsen, and pieces by composer friends Bernard Hughes, James Francis Brown and Matthew Taylor, who will also conduct the concert. The soloist is clarinettist Poppy Beddoe. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to two charities which support young musicians.

   More info here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/thmemorial

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