André Jerome Thomas (born 15 August 1952) is an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

. He served as a professor of music at the

College of Music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...

and the artistic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. In addition to his conducting and composition credits, Thomas is a published author, having written '' Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual,'' and numerous journal articles.

Early life

Thomas grew up in

Wichita, Kansas Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...

with his two sisters and mother.''Grove Music Online'', "Thomas, André," by Steven R. Kelly, accessed 9-24-12. Thomas's mother cleaned buses for Continental Trailways and sang in church. According to Thomas, this singing initiated his fascination with music. Thomas explored

choral music A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

and

instrumental music An instrumental or instrumental song is music without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer t ...

. During his elementary school years, he sporadically took piano lessons from various members of his church. This musical training notwithstanding, Thomas was predominantly self-taught during his early childhood.Gerald R. Knight. "The Music Philosophies Choral Concepts and Rehearsal Practices of Two African-American Choral Conductors" (PhD diss., Florida State University, 2006), pp.10-12. Upon entering junior high school, Thomas decided to pursue

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

formally. He began taking lessons at

Wichita State University Wichita State University (WSU) is a public research university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 areas of study in ...

, and by eighth grade, he won the Federated Music Clubs Piano Competition. During this time, Thomas participated in his junior high school’s choir and began disliking spiritual and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

music which he has since become known for composing. He has since said that

''I must admit, I was not fond of these settings, even through high school. As a young black man, I really didn’t identify. This was not the black music that I knew, and it certainly wasn’t the music that I experienced at my church! The text utilized dialect and it made me feel as if performing this music gave white people a chance to make fun of black people. I never really heard the message in the text; I only heard the way it sounded. We certainly weren’t allowed to speak like that in my home and it denoted ignorance in my mind...''

While the discomfort may have continued throughout high school, it did not stop him from being actively involved in music and composition. At 16, Thomas accepted the role of Minister of Music at Tabernacle Baptist Church. He began arranging music to meet the needs of his choir. However, his time as a music minister was not easy. Many of the choir members balked at taking instructions from such a young person. This created enough tension for him to eventually leave the choir.

College and early profession

Thomas earned degrees from

Friends University Friends University is a Private university, private Nondenominational Christianity, nondenominational Christian university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1898. The main building was originally built in 1886 for Garfield Uni ...

(B.M. 1973),

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

(M.M. in Piano Performance 1976), and

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...

(D.M.A. 1983). During his time at Friends University, Thomas sang under the direction of

Jester Hairston Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music. His notable compositions include " A ...

. Hairston noticed Thomas's lack of enthusiasm for spiritual and gospel music and pulled Thomas aside to discuss this with him. Hairston explained how " hedialect was not a sign of inferiority but an accommodation for sounds that were not part of African speech". After finishing his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

at Friends University in Wichita, KS, Thomas began teaching at Brooks Junior High School in the Wichita Public School System. Additionally, he served as the Youth Music Minister at Canaan Baptist Church. Two years later, Thomas left to pursue his master's degree in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. While studying at Northwestern University, Thomas decided against a career as a concert pianist. Instead, he aspired to spend his time conducting and teaching because he did not enjoy the solitary nature of becoming a concert pianist. Following his degree at Northwestern, Thomas returned to Wichita Public School System to teach at Coleman Junior High School before deciding to pursue his

doctoral degree A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

at the University of Illinois. While there, Thomas received an opportunity to assist Harold Decker, the then Director of Choral Activities, and to direct the University Chorus, as well as the University of Illinois Black Chorus.

Professional career

Thomas began his professional career at the

University of Texas in Austin The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 202 ...

(1981-1984) while finishing his doctoral degree. He then began his long career at

. He served as Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Choral Education, as well as Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music at Florida State University, retiring in 2019. In addition to his collegiate teaching career, Thomas conducts various choral organizations throughout the United States and internationally. He founded and directed the Tallahassee Community Chorus from 1998 to 2019. Internationally, he has conducted in

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England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

and many other countries. Thomas has conducted 49 All-State high school choirs, and has twice conducted the World Youth Choir. Thomas' influence ranges beyond conducting, as he is the author of various choral education editions. An active composer, he has been published by seven publishing companies. His writing frequently addresses the struggle of becoming a black “classical” composer, as well as the challenge of performing ethnic music (spirituals and gospels) with integrity. André Jerome Thomas is published by a number of publishers includin
Hinshaw Music
an
Gentry Publications
and Choristers Guild https://www.choristersguild.org/store/cga718-i-will-sing-praises/3872/

Selected works

Non-compositional works

* “What They See is What You Get”- instructional video on choral conducting with Rodney Eichenberger * “Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice”- instructional video on adolescent voices with Anton Armstrong * ''Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual''. Dayton, OH: Heritage Music Press, 2007.

Choral compositions

Keep Your Lamps! (TB/TTB/TTBB), Hinshaw Music, 2017
*Glory to God (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 2015 * Until I Found the Lord (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/2674h, 2009 * Until I Found the Lord (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2673h, 2009
Walk in My Shoes (SATB), Hinshaw Music, HMC2241, 2009
* My Good Lord's Done Been Here (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2480H, 2009 * Go Down’n the Valley and Pray (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2348H, 2007 * Beautiful City (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2124H 2006 * Walk in the Light (SATB) Choristers Guild, CGA 1063 2006 * Walk in the Light (2pt) Choristers Guild, CGA 1062 2006
Keep Your Lamps (SATB), Hinshaw Music, 2005Keep Your Lamps! (SA/SSA/SSAA), Hinshaw Music, 2005
* I’m Gonna Sing (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2023h, 2005 * I’m Gonna Sing (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/2023h, 2005 * Barbara Allen (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/1986h 2005 * Barbara Allen (TBB), Heritage Music Press, pending 2005 * Good News (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/1886h, 2004 * Good News (TTB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1890h, 2004 * Fences (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1797h 2003 * Swing Down Chariot (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1798h 2003 * Deep River (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1750h 2002 * I Dream A World (SAB 3-Part mixed), Heritage Music Press, 15/1730h, 2002 * John Saw Duh Number (SSAA), Heritage Music Press, 15/1666h 2001 * John Saw Duh Number (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1665h 2001 * I Hear America Singing (2 Part) Heritage Music Press, 15/1655H 2001 * The Drinking Gourd (2 Part), Heritage Music Press, 15/1564h 2000 * Heaven (SATB), Mark Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1999
I Open My Mouth, Hinshaw Music, HMC1168 1990
* Heaven (TTBB), Mark Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1988
Ride the Chariot, Hinshaw Music, HMC931 1987
* I’m A Rollin’, Hinshaw Music, 1986

Organizations and awards

*Florida American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)- past president *Southern Division ACDA- past president * ACDA-national board member, National Chair of Ethnic Music and Minority Concerns Committee *Honored as a Living Legend by the African Diaspora Sacred Music and Musicians program *Distinguished Service Award by Chorus America *Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music-Florida State University *

International Federation for Choral Music International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) is an international association founded in 1982 to facilitate communication and exchange between choral musicians throughout the world. IFCM has around 900 members from all continents. The members a ...

National Association for Music Education The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States. Founded in 1907 as the Mus ...

(formerly Music Educators National Conference) *

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...

(ASCAP) *

International Society for Music Education The International Society for Music Education (ISME) is a professional organization of persons involved with music education. It was founded in Brussels in 1953 during the UNESCO-sponsored conference on "The Role and Place of Music in the Educat ...

Pi Kappa Lambda Pi Kappa Lambda () is an international honor society for music. It was established at Northwestern University in 1918. It has chartered more than 270 chapters. History Pi Kappa Lambda was established on May 17, 1918, at Northwestern University. ...

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...

. *Choristers Guild - National Board of DirectorsAndre J. Thomas, "Andre Thomas," accessed Sept. 16, 2014. www.andrejthomas.net

Conducting credits (highlights)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. It is the resident orchestra at Symphony Hall, Birmingham in Birmingham, which has been its principal performance venue since 1991. Its adminis ...

in England *

Berlin Radio Choir The Rundfunkchor Berlin (Berlin Radio Choir) is a professional German classical choir founded in 1925. In the 1950s the choir was divided into the Berliner Solistenvereinigung and the Großer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks. These were united as Run ...

in Germany *Netherlands Radio Choir * Charlotte Symphony * Tallahassee Symphony *China’s People’s Liberation Orchestra *

Czech National Symphony Orchestra The Czech National Symphony Orchestra (ČNSO or CNSO) () is a Czech symphony orchestra based in Prague. The orchestra principally gives concerts at the Smetana Hall, Municipal House (''Smetanova síň Obecního domu''). The CNSO also performs at ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Andre J. 1952 births Living people Friends University alumni Florida State University faculty University of Illinois alumni Northwestern University alumni American male composers 21st-century American composers American male conductors (music) American music educators 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians Musicians from Wichita, Kansas