Isaac Thomas

About me:

Isaac Thomas (b. 1973) is a critically acclaimed conductor, composer, pianist, teacher, producer, and worship leader living in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. He has dedicated the better part of his life to music. Always in high demand, Isaac has traveled all over the United States to compose and conduct for some of the finest choirs. He has composed and/or conducted for contemporary Christian artists Twila Paris and Fernando Ortega, The American Boychoir (Princeton, New Jersey), The Bel Canto Company (Greensboro, North Carolina), Westminster Abbey Choir (London, United Kingdom), The Lone Star International Jazz Exchange Choir (comprised of members from Arlington, Texas and Ibbenbüren, Germany), The Arkansas Governor's School Chorale (Conway, Arkansas) and many others. He also often appears as a choral clinician and/or pianist at numerous music events. Mr. Thomas is a published composer as well as an endorsed artist with Korg keyboards. His choral composition, "Lux Aeterna" (Light Eternal) written in memory of the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing, received worldwide critical acclaim and was premiered by The American Boychoir and The John Brown University Women's Chorus. He has also been a participant in various master classes under world-famous musicians including Sony Classical recording artist and pianist Emmanuel Ax, composer Morten Lauridsen, harpsichordist John Paul, composer Donald Grantham, composer Claude Baker, as well as Jackson and Almeda Berkey (the principal keyboardists of Mannheim Steamroller). Isaac received a well-rounded musical education in conducting, piano and voice by studying at The University of Arkansas, John Brown University, Texas Wesleyan University and The University of Texas at Arlington. He has also been a choral member of the Rhodes College Master Singers Chorale in Memphis, Tennessee under the direction of Dr. Timothy Sharp (now the Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association). He has been an active performer since his youth and has performed with The Memphis Symphony, The North Arkansas Symphony, The North Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra, Arts Live!, The North Arkansas Symphony Chorus, Arkansas All-State Choir, and the U of A Schola Cantorum. He has appeared in numerous plays, musicals, and operas such as: Verdi's La Traviata (in the role of "Marquis d'Obigny"), Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (in the role of "Gherardo"), Big River (in the role of "Jim"), Little Shop of Horrors (as keyboarist), A Raisin in the Sun (in the role of "Travis"), and Dames at Sea (as keyboardist). He has been a chorus member in: Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Mahler's 2nd Symphony, Händel's The Messiah, Fauré's Requiem, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna (with the composer in attendance), John Rutter's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Brahms' Requiem, Vaughn Williams' Hodie and Fantasia, Poulenc's Gloria, Bernstein's West Side Story, and also Puccini's Madame Butterfly. He has conducted various choirs in performances of G.F, Händel's The Messiah, Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, John Rutter's Requiem, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. His latest CD is entitled, "Nightfall On Still Water". He endorses Steinway, BösendoMason & Hamlin, Baldwin, and Yamaha pianos.