UK orchestra is shocked by death of young conductor
NewsMembers of the St Albans Symphony Orchestra have shared news of the sudden death of their conductor, Tom Hammond.
The New Year’s Cathedral concert this Saturday has been cancelled.
[A message from the orchestra’s co-chairs has been taken down from this report at their request.]
Tom Hammond founded the Hertfordshire Festival of Music in 2016 and worked regularly with orchestras on the outskirts of London. His recent soloists include Stephen Hough, Steven Isserlis and Veronika Shoot.
He was a fervent supporter of Palestinian causes and conductor of the Palestine Youth Orchestra.
Our sympathies to his family, musicians and friends.
UPDATE: Friends pay tribute-
PYO: We are shocked and saddened to learn that a great friend and family member of the Palestine Youth Orchestra Tom Hammond has passed away. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, May he Rest In Peace. The world has lost an amazing human being. Tom, thank you for everything, you will be dearly missed.
Mohamed Najem: All Palestinian musicians are mourning today.
Layth Hanbali: None of us will ever forget the kindness, energy, humour and humility of the amazing Tom Hammond. He gave young Palestinian musicians everything he had and loved Palestine so deeply. He wasn’t just our conductor; he became our colleague and friend, and part of the big family.
Every one of us was inspired and moved by your dedication, passion and your belief in us. I wish you could have come to Palestine just one last time.
Beth Taylor: The world has lost such an incredible talent and generous spirit. I’m heartbroken beyond words. Your support for young artists and kindness lifted my confidence and first connected me to the Hertfordshire Festival and its rich musical offerings; an experience that has stayed with me ever since I first telephoned you, a very enthusiastic wee student desperate to meet and sing to Dame Emma Kirkby, the first classical voice I ever heard as a child on my grandpa’s radio.
This is very sad, shocking news. Tom was a good friend of mine and a great colleague. He will be very much missed by all who knew and worked with him.
Sorry to hear that, Cross-Eyed. How did Tom die? When and where? This report is rather short on details.
Down-vote all you’d like, folks, but this is standard information that runs in any obituary. I see the cause of death is cited above now.
Don’t make it about you
Why have 14 people given this comment a thumbs down? Have you no respect for the dead?
It is always very hard for family and friends when someone has a heart attack at any age and dies as it is such a shock for those left behind, and we so expect people this day and age to survive them. May he rest in peace.
Awful to go so young. What did he die of?
It tells you!
It’s there now, but wasn’t when I posted yesterday.
The vaccine.
Absolutely ghastly.
What a sad story. At least his family do not have to mark Christmas Day as his anniversary, but it will dampen the season for them for a long time, perhaps forever. And yo lose such a young man.
RIP
This isn’t the place for discussion of the details surrounding Tom’s passing. This publication has not been requested or approved by his family. Requests for the removal of this article have been ignored by the author. An official announcement will be made in due course.
This is completely untrue. We received notification, as stated, from members of the orchestra. We waited 24 hours so that family and friends could be informed. No request has been received for the removal of this article.
We regret the sad event, but shooting the messenger is no remedy.
Dickie sadly the family and Tom’s beloved friends, colleagues and music family have not been considered here. I have been tweeting now for 24 hours – either deleted or ignored. We should not be having to do this at this time and you are right this is not the place for this discussion.
What an awful story. It forces people to think again about the priorities of their life.
Interesting to see that there are, at the time of writing (1am Thursday), nine downticks for each of the three compassionate comments on this thread. There are some very sick people out there.
Yes, there are, Anthony.
so sad news! May he rest in peace! and big heart to his family!
(On his twitter he was posting he had his booster jab @19.12……)
Ouch.
Lots of myocarditis going around these days (especially in otherwise healthy young men)…
What’s with all the downvotes here? I’ve never seen so many for a death notice on this site. I can only assume it relates to Mr Holland’s political views. Frankly, people gloating over someone’s death at 32 just because he conducted an orchestra with the name Palestine in it should be ashamed of themselves.
His name is mr Hammond, and he was 52, but otherwise I completely agree with you..
May be using a picture of Tom sporting a keffiyeh invited certain responses. There were plenty of other pictures to use. A fine musician and a likeable man who will be very much missed.
I can’t quite work out why there are so many dislikes on the lovely comments about Tom.. is it purely because he supported the Palestinian youth orchestra? Are people really that short sighted?
May be the dislikes are also because one should not ask for “how did he died” if it is not told…
Maybe because some are increasingly suspicious of the deaths of young, healthy people.
This is very sad to read and heart-felt condolences must go to his family, friends and colleagues at this time.
In line with some of the comments already posted, it is sometimes hard to see that this is a music posting site as so many articles seem to invoke a political slanging match, and Mea Culpa to that myself at times. There is no place for that with such a posting as this and I hope Tom’s friends that have contributed on here will see the positive comments about him and allow them to rise above those of the idiots who have no tact or sympathy at such times.
Suspicious that this was right after his Covid booster shot and it was a heart attack inns young man. Just saying…
It was the vaccine.