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Dr.
Thomas is the Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes University, where he
conducts the Wilkes University Chorus and Wilkes University Chamber
Singers and serves as vocal coach for the musical theater productions. He
also teaches courses in choral music education, conducting, and music
history, and is the coordinator of the university’s NUArts: New and
Unusual Arts series.
A
native of Kansas City, Missouri, he holds a B.A. degree in music from
Harvard University and a D.M.A. degree in choral conducting from Yale
University. Dr. Thomas has prepared choruses for performances with a wide
variety of artists and ensembles, including Dave Brubeck, Kenny Rogers,
the Boston Camerata, the Hartford Symphony, and the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Before coming to Wilkes, Dr. Thomas taught at
the University of Bridgeport, directed the Harmonia Choral Society in
Cheshire, Connecticut, and was music director of the Greater New Haven
Community Chorus. Dr. Thomas has spent five summers teaching 20th
century choral music to gifted high school students at the Governor’s
School of North Carolina, and has guest conducted the choirs at the
Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston. He also sings
with the Lyric Consort, an eight-member a cappella ensemble based in
northeastern Pennsylvania.
Dr.
Thomas' appointment to the position of music director was the result of a
detailed hiring process. Many applications were submitted to the RDC
Board of Directors. Candidates were then interviewed by the board and
transition committee. Each candidate also acted as guest conductor
for the Chorale during the spring of 2004. Finally, a decision was
reached by the Board with the input of both the transition team and
Chorale members. Thanks are
due to the RDC Board and transition team, who labored with such love
and dedication to ensure that the legacy of excellence, for which the
Chorale has come to stand, will continue.
Read Dr. Thomas' PROGRAM NOTES
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