Charles Thornton Lofthouse

Charles Thornton Lofthouse (York, 12 October 1895 – London, 28 February 1974) was an English music educator, conductor and harpsichordist whose career was based mainly in London. He is noted for his teaching and for his dedication to basso continuo in the music of Bach.

He was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral (1904–1910) and continued his studies at the Royal Manchester College of Music, where he took up the organ with Walter Parratt, and at the Royal College of Music, where he studied conducting with Boult. He broadened his training in piano in Paris, with Cortot, and in harpsichord, with Aimée van der Wiele and Gustav Leonhardt. He obtained the degrees of Bachelor of Music (1930) and Doctor of Music (1935) at Trinity College Dublin.

Between 1921 and 1939 he was accompanist to the Bach Choir in London, from where he developed the art of basso continuo; he was the first to use a harpsichord at the Royal Albert Hall. He taught at the Royal College of Music between 1922 and 1971 and was director of music at Westminster School and the University of Reading. He founded the University of London Musical Society, at the head of which he promoted performances of Bach and Vaughan Williams.