Longwood Debut
A competitor in the 2013, 2016, and 2019 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competitions, Thomas Gaynor is the Assistant Organist & Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Church in Philadelphia, an adjunct professor of organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and has won the Gold Medal and Audience Prize at the St. Albans International Organ Competition.
Recently, he started as an assistant organist at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Macy’s, and regularly performs at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City—both of which are homes to the two largest pipe organs in the world.
Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Gaynor recently moved to Philadelphia to take up the position of Assistant Organist & Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Church, Locust Street. In this role, he directs the Saint Mark’s Singers and works with Organist and Choirmaster Robert McCormick to assist in direction of the Parish Choir and the Boy & Girl Choristers, and in leading all aspects of the busy music program.
Gaynor earned his undergraduate degree from the New Zealand School of Music, while holding organ scholarships at the Wellington Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul as well as St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church. He recently graduated from David Higgs’s studio at the Eastman School of Music with a Doctor of Musical Arts and the school’s highest honor, the Artist’s Certificate. In 2017, Gaynor was presented with the Gold Medal and Audience Prize at the St. Albans International Organ Competition.
