Thomas Shorthouse is a London-based composer and producer hailing from West Yorkshire whose music has been heard across the UK, US, and Europe. In his music, Thomas attempts to balance process-based harmony and structure with influences from non-classical genres, often oscillating between the hyperreal and surreal, the feverish and sombre, and the playful and obscure.

A scholar at the Royal College of Music, Thomas’ undergraduate studies have led him to

collaborations with many emerging artists, including Luca Imperiale, Özgür Kaya, Maria

Filippova, Sophie Stevenson, İlayda Deniz Oğuz, Rishi Mirchandani, Larli Davies, Jess Bull-Anderson, the Jasmine Quartet, the Deleuze New Music Collective, Follia 4, and serpentine.iii, as well as workshops and premieres with established ensembles including the Fidelio Trio, Alkyona Quartet, Ex Corde, RCM Symphony Orchestra, and Horsham Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas’s recent projects include charms, trinkets, and offerings, a string quartet commissioned by the Jasmine Quartet, Glitter on the pavement, a work for ensemble and electronics exploring the aftermaths of celebration, and Angels on the beach at night,

a recorder concerto written for Luca Imperiale.

In 2024, Thomas was shortlisted for the National Centre for Early Music's Young

Composer Award for his piece Mirabile mysterium, which was then workshopped and premiered by vocal ensemble Ex Corde. In 2022, Thomas’ work Lullaby for the Things That Don’t Sleep, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth International Composition Award, where a new work was then premiered at The Royal Overseas League, London by students of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Throughout his studies Thomas has had the support from various professors and teachers, including Dr Deirdre Gribbin, Prof. Simon Holt, Dr Nicholas Moroz, Prof. Kate Simko, Dr Catherine Kontz, Ed Bell, and the many music teachers at Wakefield Music Services. 

Thomas is grateful to be an Ian Evans Lombe Scholar at the RCM.