Coming from Grand Rapids, Mich., Upper and Middle School Choir Director Thomas Griffith brings welcomed insight and passion for our choral program as he adjusts to life in the Nutmeg State.
Mr. Griffith first discovered Kingswood Oxford in January. “[KO] was the first place that popped up on the Google search,” Mr. Griffith admitted. “Whenever I see a job opening for a school, the first thing I do is look at the mission statement and the school’s values. It was something that I knew I needed to do, and it felt right that this place aligned with my values.” Mr. Griffith first came to KO in April and knew right away that this was where he was meant to be.
Mr. Griffith wasn’t hesitant to share his imposter syndrome when coming to KO. He came to Connecticut to be close to family and try something new, but he couldn’t help but doubt himself. “ Why does a place like KO want a person like me?” he questioned. Mr. Griffith returned to KO for the new faculty orientation. “I found it to be a welcoming, kind, and supportive community,” he realized. “Everybody seems to be on the same page of why we’re here. I feel like KO attracts the type of people that are intellectually curious.”
Mr. Griffith shared that he loved music from a young age. He saw family members sing and play piano, and wanted not only to do it too, but do it better. He learned the piano and started singing, then joined a children’s church choir and fell in love with classical choral music. He sang in his high school chorus and obtained a vocal scholarship. Mr. Griffith attended Alma College and transferred to Aquinas College, where he earned a BA in music. In addition to being vocally talented, Mr. Griffith was also an NCAA track and cross country athlete. He never really considered music as a career path. “I started exploring music more creatively than I was in high school,” he explained. With this change in mindset in college, Mr. Griffith discovered his love for music. “It is my passion, and I want to make it my life’s work,” he said.
In Michigan, Mr. Griffith taught in a similar role at Catholic Central High School, where he directed three high school ensembles and the middle school choir program. At KO, Mr. Griffith will serve as Upper School and Middle School choral director — specifically, director of the Choraliers, Cantabile, Voce Novissima, and Oxfordians — and an Upper Prep advisor. He will also be involved with the US winter musical and the MS spring musical.
In his free time, Mr. Griffith arranges music and explores different kinds of music, runs, longboards (a type of skateboarding), reads, watches movies, and cooks. He has a deep passion for cooking and has even made his own sourdough.
When asked about his personal goals, Mr. Griffith explained that he eventually wants to participate in a professional ensemble in Connecticut, as he enjoyed singing in the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys when he was in Michigan. “For me, it’s important to remain teachable,” he said. He also hopes to earn his masters in Choral Conducting at the Hartt School.
Mr. Griffith’s KO goals are to facilitate a fun environment, narrow in on music literacy with the middle schoolers, and continue the tradition of excellence within the musicals. “Everybody should sing in choir,” Mr. Griffith exclaimed. “I promise you, it will change your life.”
