Thomaskantor (Cantor at St. Thomas) is the common name for the musical director of the Thomanerchor, now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212.

As director, he organized music for city functions such as town council elections and homages.

Leipzig has had a university dating back to 1409, and is a commercial center, hosting a trade fair first mentioned in 1165.

The position of Thomaskantor at Bach's time has been described as "one of the most respected and influential musical offices of Protestant Germany.

[3] The library of St. Thomas contained works in vocal polyphony from the fifteenth century onward.

The following table shows the names of the known people in the position, and their time of service, in chronological order from the Reformation to now.