Oh fortuna-te we are to sing these past 25 years under such a maestro’s baton - a maestro who took it upon himself to take care of this house.

We have the good fortuna to master and present concerts so wide ranging, the music at times hard, exciting and engaging, creating connections our mission, through collaborations, travel and commissions.

Tom’s vision is clear and sure even when some could not see its allure - but darn if when push came to shove, when we lifted our eyes above the music and followed that baton, it all came together, that connection between choir and director, it was winner - winner.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Tom’s outreach to other groups choral from Fairfax to Havana, singing Fluellen to Handel, we couldn’t help but have a ball.

And if or when we missed notes, sang off pitch or just counted wrong, Tom would patiently chivvy us along, urging mind over what’s the matter as part of his encouraging patter. Look up! Follow the baton and we’ll all finish strong.

Tom shepherded us through the thick and the thin, as Covid wreaked havoc, shut us down, music hopes dimmed. Undaunted we maintained our alliance, marked the Christmas season, masked, separate but singing together in musical defiance, our gesture of hope, encouragement and celebration and unabashed determination.

We emerged robust and emboldened, to our supporters much beholden as we worked to regain our audience, to recommit to our outreach, voices of the future, singing for seniors, displaying our resilience.

With Tom we marked BCCS’ 50th anniversary; an ovation to overcoming adversity.

And oh how fortuna-te we are to continue to sing on under our prestigious maestro’s baton, keeping time and inflection, our slavonic diction perfection - the Smiley and Carmina triumphantly heart stealing as Tom conducted with feeling, the concert a summation of Tom’s visionary grasp until an enthusiastic gesture caused his hand, gasp! to slip, the baton sailing con brio landing not far from the cellos, to be scooped up with barely a ritardando back into the hand of our illustrious, slightly chagrined maestro.

And in June the Bernstein, our 25th anniversary choral coda with choirs and soloists of the present and futyah, Tom’s duet with Liz the evening’s ne plus ultra.

Carried away by music and harmony, we hope our message of unity strikes a chord, hits the right notes in the greater community. It is the best of all possible worlds to sing with Dr Thomas Lloyd.

We thank him for his commitment, his determination, his patience, his lessons and his imagination.

In honor of Tom’s 25th year, and to prevent another incident of full choir heart palpitation, we make this presentation: the OXO Tempo 25th Anniversary Got-A-Grip conductor’s baton, specially equipped with never patented super stick non slip coating, so that our maestro’s conducting will continue to be as gripping, deft and sure as his leadership and musical vision that have so successfully guided us these past 25 years.

— Deborah DiMicco, choir member
June 2025