Worthing Symphony Orchestra Team

John Gibbons

Conductor / Music Director

John Gibbons is an acclaimed conductor, composer, arranger, pianist and organist, celebrated for adventurous programming spanning opera, cathedral music and overlooked British repertoire. He has conducted leading orchestras including the BBC Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, CBSO and Concertgebouw Orchestra, and recorded acclaimed works by Bruckner, Skalkottas, Benjamin and Wordsworth. A champion of overlooked composers, John has given numerous world and UK premieres. He is Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Vice Chairman of the British Music Society. When away from music, John can be found discovering nature in Ireland.

More information here: https://johngibbonsmusic.co.uk/

Daniel Lauro

Operations Manager

Daniel studied timpani & percussion at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Patrick King (LSO), Owen Gunnell and Henry Baldwin (RBO) and at the Conservatorio Monteverdi di Bolzano in Italy. Since graduating, Daniel performs professionally with the Devon Baroque Orchestra, Kent Sinfonia, International Film Orchestra and FullTone Orchestra which in recent years have toured with Aled Jones and Lucy Jones. Daniel has recently performed an opera at Opera Holland Park with Opera Prelude.

Daniel performs all around the UK with Lewes Music, a touring music company which he founded in 2019. Daniel joined the Worthing Symphony Orchestra team in March 2025.

When not involved in music, Daniel can be found in the Alps in his hometown in Italy.

Maddy Thomas

Chair of Trustees

Maddy began her career in financial journalism, writing and editing for a variety of outlets including websites, news agencies, banks and other corporates. She freelanced for broadsheets and TV programmes before penning a personal finance book and then shifting attention to financial education. For the past decade, much of her focus has been on fundraising for charities and education.

Throughout her financial and business career, Maddy has cultivated her lifelong love of music. She learned violin through the Royal Northern College of Music's string school, subsequently honing her playing under the tutelage of Dennis Simons. She continues to regularly play orchestral and chamber music on a semi-professional basis.

Working with Worthing Symphony Orchestra provides the perfect opportunity to collaborate with fellow music lovers to keep classical music vibrant and relevant for existing music lovers while bringing the joy of live performance and unknown gems to the next generation of music lovers.