Thomson, Stewart
Stewart (MacMillan) Thomson. Architect, pianist, organist, choir conductor, born Winnipeg 14 Apr 1930, died there 27 Oct 2008; B ARCH (Manitoba) 1954. His teachers were his father, W. Davidson, and Glen Pierce (voice), and Leonard Heaton (piano). Though an architect by profession, Thomson has pursued a parallel career as one of Winnipeg's busiest and most reliable accompanists and chamber musicians. In 1955 he married the soprano Phyllis Cooke and has been her partner in many recitals in Winnipeg and other Manitoba centres and on CBC radio. The Thomsons commissioned and premiered 18 Oct 1976 Bernard Naylor'sThree Feminine Things. Thomson was organist-choirmaster at St James Anglican Church ca 1951-3, assumed the same position at St George's Anglican Church in 1956, and celebrated 35 years as director of the men and boys choir in 1990. He also served 1967-75 as chorusmaster of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir.