David M. Thomas (“Dr. Thomas”)
David M. Thomas enjoys a strong reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest as a conductor who fuses technique and artistry to provide a compelling and transformative musical experience.
Dr. Thomas excels as a choral musician through his unwavering commitment to healthy vocal production in the choir. Influenced early on by the beautiful soprano voice of his mother, Beverly Thomas, and her work building a thriving children’s and youth choral academy, Dr. Thomas spent much of his childhood years engrossed in the art of singing. As a teen, he took quickly to conducting, found early success leading his peers in rehearsal and performance, laying a strong foundation for his future education and career path. Earning an undergraduate degree in vocal performance (Brigham Young University) provided the confidence and skill necessary to elicit healthy, energetic singing from choristers.
Dr. Thomas attributes much of his success as a conductor and pedagogue to his years of study and performance with Dr. Ronald Staheli. Valery Uspensky, Stanislav Legkov and Mack Wilberg also played key roles in his development as a musician. Dr. Thomas (baritone) has performed as a soloist in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s well-known weekly television broadcast, and on the Mariinsky Theatre stage, and has prepared choirs or collaborated as a guest conductor with many prestigious ensembles including the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Newport Symphony Orchestra.
After earning additional degrees in Russian language (BA) and choral conducting (MM) at Brigham Young University, Dr. Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg Russia. He has continually integrated Russian music in his performance and research, providing performance coaching for ensembles and soloists, and presenting scholarly work at national and regional level professional conferences. Dr. Thomas has served as Artistic Director of the Portland Choir & Orchestra since 2007, also pursues his greatest love (teaching) with his greatest love (his wife Emily) at Studio Thomas and is highly sought after as a clinician and adjudicator.
Emily Thomas (“Miss Emily”)
Emily Bradley Thomas earned a Bachelor of Music Degree (Vocal Performance) from Brigham Young University. She has toured as a performer throughout much of the U.S. and also internationally in England, Russia and Lithuania. She also enjoys writing and published an article in Classical Singer Magazine. She has a great passion for teaching and especially loves the challenge and joy of teaching music to children. She and her husband David Thomas have been operating their own private vocal studio for the past 17 years. Favorites of Emily include; reading, chocolate, exercise, and dates with her husband and five children.
