Cormac Thompson is a talented young chorister from Lancashire, UK, who began his singing journey at the age of 8. In 2020, he launched a YouTube channel, sharing his performances online. His impressive talent quickly caught the attention of Decca Records, who offered him the opportunity to collaborate on an album.
His treble rendition of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” from Les Misérables was recorded at London’s Masterchord Studio. The song was released as a charity single to support Acting For Others, an organization that offers financial and emotional assistance to theatre workers in need—especially crucial during the challenging times of 2020.
In the video above, Cormac is 13 years old and already demonstrating remarkable musical maturity with his vocal performance. In 2020, due to lockdown restrictions, Cormac couldn’t visit his Nannie, who adores hearing him sing. To stay connected, his mother started recording his performances and sharing them with her on YouTube. Cormac later reflected, saying, “It wasn’t until I uploaded videos to YouTube, singing songs for my Nannie in Northern Ireland, that I truly realized how much I love it.
Since that moment, Cormac’s love for music has fueled his daily practice as he embarks on what promises to be a promising music career. In 2021, professional pianist Dominic Ferris reached out to Cormac with interest in recording a few tracks. Dominic, known for his collaborations with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, has achieved over 3 million album sales worldwide. He has also contributed to six albums that reached the top 10 charts and recently worked with Michael Ball on his No.1 UK album Coming Home To You. Alongside Cormac’s parents, Dominic recognizes the immense talent and passion the young singer possesses. So far, they have recorded 8 songs together.
You may have also heard Cormac’s breathtaking vocals on UK television. In 2021, he competed in the BBC Young Chorister of the Year competition and made it to the finals, held at Salisbury Cathedral. Clips from his performance can be found on Cormac’s YouTube channel (links at the end of the article).
When discussing his musical influences, Cormac shared, “I enjoy listening to all types of music. I’m a huge fan of Ed Sheeran, and right now, I’m learning to play one of his songs on the piano to sing. I really enjoy performing songs with beautiful melodies that showcase my voice at its best. I’m eager to sing these kinds of songs before my voice changes into a man’s voice, which is getting closer every day. I’ll be very sad when I lose my treble voice, but I know it’s a gift that was only mine to borrow for a short time. Hopefully, I won’t sound too awful when my adult voice comes in.”
To hear more from this gifted young artist and follow his growing music career, subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook or Instagram. For additional updates, visit his official website. Cormac is also raising funds for the Acting For Others charity, and you can contribute through Just Giving. If you’re interested in seeing more from the talented pianist featured in the videos, be sure to follow Dominic Ferris on Facebook as well.
