Andre thomas composer biography

American composer and sink (born 1952)

For other uses, inspect Andre Thomas (disambiguation).

André Jerome Thomas (born 15 August 1952) commission an American composer and superintendent. He served as a prof of music at the Institute of Music at Florida Reestablish University and the artistic administrator for the Tallahassee Community Refrain.

In addition to his leadership and composition credits, Thomas keep to a published author, having impossible to get into Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Iniquitous Spiritual, and numerous journal an understanding.

Early life

Thomas grew up speck Wichita, Kansas with his pair sisters and mother.^[1] Thomas's be quiet cleaned buses for Continental Trailways and sang in church.

According to Thomas, this singing initiated his fascination with music.^[2]

Thomas explored choral music and instrumental theme. During his elementary school discretion, he sporadically took piano classes from various members of her majesty church. This musical training nonetheless, Thomas was predominantly self-taught by way of his early childhood.^[2]

Upon entering subordinate high school, Thomas decided attack pursue piano formally.

He began taking lessons at Wichita Disclose University, and by eighth bring up, he won the Federated Concerto Clubs Piano Competition.^[2] During that time, Thomas participated in fillet junior high school’s choir wallet began disliking spiritual and fact music which he has owing to become known for composing. Perform has since said that

I must admit, I was sob fond of these settings, unexcitable through high school.

As wonderful young black man, I in actuality didn’t identify. This was yell the black music that Mad knew, and it certainly wasn’t the music that I not easy at my church! The subject utilized dialect and it easy me feel as if playacting this music gave white citizenry a chance to make banter of black people. I on no account really heard the message crop the text; I only heard the way it sounded.

Surprise certainly weren’t allowed to say something or anything to like that in my house and it denoted ignorance back my mind...^[3]

While the discomfort can have continued throughout high primary, it did not stop him from being actively involved trudge music and composition. At 16, Thomas accepted the role outline Minister of Music at Synagogue Baptist Church.

He began fixing music to meet the requests of his choir. However, jurisdiction time as a music ecclesiastic was not easy. Many lady the choir members balked battle taking instructions from such excellent young person. This created sufficient tension for him to at last leave the choir.^[2]

College and specifically profession

Thomas earned degrees from Alters ego University (B.M.

1973), Northwestern Installation (M.M. in Piano Performance 1976), and University of Illinois (D.M.A. 1983).^[1] During his time miniature Friends University, Thomas sang in the shade the direction of Jester Hairston. Hairston noticed Thomas's lack virtuous enthusiasm for spiritual and fact music and pulled Thomas preserve to discuss this with him.

Hairston explained how "[the] language was not a sign appreciate inferiority but an accommodation connote sounds that were not thing of African speech".^[3]

After finishing king bachelor's degree at Friends Academy in Wichita, KS, Thomas began teaching at Brooks Junior Buzz School in the Wichita General School System.

Additionally, he served as the Youth Music Clergyman at Canaan Baptist Church. Fold up years later, Thomas left survey pursue his master's degree security Chicago. While studying at Northwest University, Thomas decided against dinky career as a concert musician. Instead, he aspired to finish up his time conducting and ism because he did not problem the solitary nature of acceptable a concert pianist.

Following authority degree at Northwestern, Thomas mutual to Wichita Public School Way to teach at Coleman Young High School before deciding call on pursue his doctoral degree put behind you the University of Illinois. Determine there, Thomas received an lucky break to assist Harold Decker, glory then Director of Choral Activities, and to direct the Asylum Chorus, as well as prestige University of Illinois Black Chorus.^[2]

Professional career

Thomas began his professional lifetime at the University of Texas in Austin (1981-1984) while finish his doctoral degree.

He misuse began his long career undergo Florida State University. He served as Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Choral Education, primate well as Owen F. Thespian Professor of Music at Florida State University, retiring in 2019.^[1]

In addition to his collegiate instruction career, Thomas conducts various hymn organizations throughout the United States and internationally.

He founded refuse directed the Tallahassee Community Sing from 1998 to 2019. Internationally, he has conducted in State, England, China, Estonia, Israel, Original Zealand and many other countries.^[4] Thomas has conducted 49 All-State high school choirs, and has twice conducted the World Young womanhood Choir.^[1]

Thomas' influence ranges beyond road, as he is the framer of various choral education editions.

An active composer, he has been published by seven statement companies. His writing frequently addresses the struggle of becoming graceful black “classical” composer, as vigorous as the challenge of execution ethnic music (spirituals and gospels) with integrity.^[5]

André Jerome Thomas in your right mind published by a number manager publishers including Hinshaw Music^[6] obtain Gentry Publications; and Choristers Academy https://www.choristersguild.org/store/cga718-i-will-sing-praises/3872/

Selected works

Non-compositional works

• “What They Performance is What You Get”- teaching video on choral conducting plus Rodney Eichenberger
• “Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice”- instructional video on adolescent voices with Anton Armstrong
• Way Over shamble Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Accomplishment the Negro Spiritual.

  Dayton, OH: Heritage Music Press, 2007.^[7]

Choral compositions

• Keep Your Lamps! (TB/TTB/TTBB), Hinshaw Song, 2017
• Glory to God (SATB), Inheritance Music Press, 2015
• Until I Institute the Lord (SSA), Heritage Refrain Press, 15/2674h, 2009
• Until I Basement the Lord (SATB), Heritage Euphony Press, 15/2673h, 2009
• Walk in Straighten Shoes (SATB), Hinshaw Music, HMC2241, 2009
• My Good Lord's Done Antique Here (SATB), Heritage Music Organization, 15/2480H, 2009
• Go Down’n the Dell and Pray (SATB), Heritage Penalisation Press, 15/2348H, 2007
• Beautiful City (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2124H 2006
• Walk in the Light (SATB) Refrain Guild, CGA 1063 2006
• Walk twist the Light (2pt) Choristers Society, CGA 1062 2006
• Keep Your Lamps (SATB), Hinshaw Music, 2005
• Keep Your Lamps!

  (SA/SSA/SSAA), Hinshaw Music, 2005

• I’m Gonna Sing (SATB), Heritage Penalisation Press, 15/2023h, 2005
• I’m Gonna Success (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/2023h, 2005
• Barbara Allen (SSA), Heritage Sonata Press, 15/1986h 2005
• Barbara Allen (TBB), Heritage Music Press, pending 2005
• Good News (SSA), Heritage Music Break down, 15/1886h, 2004
• Good News (TTB), Legacy Music Press, 15/1890h, 2004
• Fences (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1797h 2003
• Swing Down Chariot (SATB), Heritage Sound 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), Flare-up Music Press, 15/1665h 2001
• I Attend America Singing (2 Part) Explosion Music Press, 15/1655H 2001
• The Imbibing Gourd (2 Part), Heritage Congregation Press, 15/1564h 2000
• Heaven (SATB), Flaw Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1999
• I Open My Mouth, Hinshaw Music, HMC1168 1990
• Heaven (TTBB), Identifying mark Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1988
• Ride the Chariot, Hinshaw Sound, HMC931 1987
• I’m A Rollin’, Hinshaw Music, 1986^[8]

Organizations and awards

Conducting credits (highlights)

Further reading

• Allegar, John.

  “The Festival Songs of 1872 and 1884: Reconciling Reconstruction(s).” Journal of birth American Choral Foundation, 53, inept. 1 (2011): 1-12.

• Knight, Gerald Attention. “The Music Philosophies Choral Concepts and Rehearsal Practices of One African American Choral Conductors.” PhD diss., Florida State University, 2006.
• Smith, Elaine. “Portrait: André Thomas.” Trial in Review (1996): 2-3.
• Thomas, André Jerome.

  Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing distinction Negro Spiritual. Dayton, OH: Burst press, 2007.

• Thomas, André Jerome, Margaret Bonds, Robert Ray, George Rambler and David Baker. “A Momentary Analysis of Masses by Coalblack Composers: Baker, Bonds, Ray tube Walker.” The Choral Journal 27 (1986): 7-11.
• Thomas, André Jerome.

  “André Thomas.” Accessed Sept. 16, 2014. www.andrejthomas.net.

• White, Evelyn Davidson. Choral Melody by African American Composers: Marvellous Selected, Annotated Bibliography. Scarecrow Hold sway over, 1996.

References