About Me

From 2009-2024, Thomas established himself as a well-known figure in Chicago’s musical and sustainability communities. He served as co-director of the Bach and Beethoven Experience (BBE), a chamber music ensemble known within the early music and folk communities for its innovative commissions for period instruments and fun folk/Baroque crossover concerts. As co-director of the groundbreaking OperaWorks™ singer training program, he led the program out of a multi-year hiatus into its post-pandemic relaunch. He co-founded The EcoVoice Project, a non-profit focused on climate change advocacy and education through music. At Holy Name Cathedral, he was Associate Conductor of Choirs and Director of the Women’s Schola for fifteen seasons while moonlighting as an occasional “liturgical saxophonist” during services. He was a climate change educator at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where he ran the internationally acclaimed Summer Institute on Climate and the Environment for 12 years (2011-2023) and taught courses on music, environmentalism, activism, and science.

In the summer of 2024, Thomas relocated to Seattle. Outside of his home voice studio, he works with people on fitness and nutrition through Squirrel Energy Fitness and The Performer’s Gym which focuses on performing artist injury prevention, rehabilitation, and strength and functional movement skill development. He travels the country leading STEM workshops for university students and early career post-docs to develop science communication skills through operatic performance techniques. In September, he joined St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church as the Director of Choirs.

Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His research interests include the performance practice and ornamentation of Sean-nòs singers and the use of music in sociopolitical and environmental movements. He received his Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy at Texas Woman’s University and his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (voice and saxophone) from Alderson-Broaddus University. He is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT/CNC) with specializations in sports performance, corrective exercise, and behavioral change, with additional certification through the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA).

When not engaged in any of the above activities, he can be found cooking or feeding his cat, Theobold 😻, shuffling, or playing World of Warcraft.