The esteemed conductor, Dr. André J. Thomas will lead a special President’s Day choral festival concert at The Kennedy Center on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 2 p.m. The concert is free, but tickets must be obtained from the presenter at by visiting the website or by calling call (800) 395-2036. Featured works on the program include Howard Hanson's Song of Democracy and John Rutter's Gloria. A noted composer, Thomas will also lead the singers in a set of his original choral pieces. Todd Nichols will appear as guest conductor in the Celebration Overture by Paul Creston and LoPresti’s Elegy for a Young American, performed by the Eastern Wind Symphony of New Jersey.
MORE ABOUT ANDRÉ J. THOMAS:
Thomas is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. A previous faculty member at the University of Texas, Austin, Dr. Thomas received his degrees from Friends University (B.A.), Northwestern University (M. M.), and the University of Illinois (D.M.A). He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of Honor/All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Dr. Thomas has conducted choirs at the state, division, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His international conducting credits are extensive. They include conductor/clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians, summer residency of the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines, winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe, and a premier performance by an American choir (Florida State University Singers) in Vietnam. He has been the guest conductor of such distinguished orchestras and choirs as the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, guest Conductor for the Berlin Radio Choir in Germany, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Charlotte Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, China’s People’s Liberation Orchestra and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.
Since 1988, he has also served as Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Thomas has also distinguished himself as a composer/arranger. Hinshaw Music Company, Mark Foster Music Company, Fitzsimons Music Company, Lawson Gould, Earthsongs, Choristers Guild, and Heritage Music Company publish his compositions and arrangements. Dr. Thomas has produced two instructional videos "What They See Is What You Get" on choral conducting, with Rodney Eichenberger, and "Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice" on adolescent voices, with Anton Armstrong. His recent book "Way Over in Beulah Lan’. Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual" has quickly become a major source in this area of study. The African Diaspora Sacred Music honored Dr. Thomas as a Living Legend. In 2011, Thomas’ dedication to and accomplishments in the choral arts were recognized by his peers in Chorus America, when that organization presented Dr. Thomas with its Distinguished Service Award. He is a past president of the Florida ACDA, and the past president of the Southern Division of ACDA.
IF YOU PLAN TO GO:
Monday, February 20, 2012
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
National Presidents Day Choral Festival 2012 Featuring: Presidents Day Festival Chorus
André Thomas, Festival artistic director Eastern Wind Symphony, Todd Nichols, conductor William H. Silvester, conductor emeritus Free
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