André J. Thomas joins LSO as associate artist
Florence Lockheart
Monday, May 9, 2022
An expert in choral music, Thomas will hold the role for a period of three years and will collaborate with the orchestra to create programmes and choose repertoire.
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) has announced the appointment of American conductor and composer André J. Thomas to the recently created role of associate artist. He will join Canadian conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan who was the first artist appointed to the role in February 2022.
The LSO describes associate artists as ‘musicians with distinct influences, quality and style that add diversity and richness to the LSO’. Associate artists will hold the role for a period of three years, during which they will collaborate with the orchestra to create their own programmes and help choose the repertoire for each season.
Kathryn McDowell, managing director of the LSO said: ‘It’s a great pleasure to deepen our relationship with André J. Thomas as we explore a wider canvas of musical genres. André has been an invaluable source of knowledge in this field, as well as an inspirational choral conductor, composer and educator.’
Born in Wichita, Kansas, Thomas is an expert in choral music. He is emeritus professor of music at Florida State University, interim conductor of the Yale Camerata and visiting professor of conducting at Yale School of Music.
His accolades include the Distinguished Service Award from Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association’s Robert Shaw Award, the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The was also honoured by the African Diaspora Sacred Music and Musicians Program as a Living Legend in 2011 and inducted into the Florida Music Education Association’s Hall of Fame in 2019.
Thomas said, ‘It is a huge honour for me to join LSO family of artists, the audience reception to our gospel and jazz concerts to date has been inspiring, and what is also exciting is the willingness and ease with which the LSO players develop a rapport with this music. I am looking forward to introducing more of the emerging Afro-American composing talent to audiences in the UK’
This month (29 May), Thomas will conduct the LSO in a concerts of gospel symphonic music, featuring works by African American composers. You can find out more about the LSO (including tickets) here.
You can find out more about Dr André J. Thomas here.
