André J. Thomas

André Jerome Thomas (born 15 August 1952) is an American composer and conductor. He served as a professor of music at the College of Music at Florida State University and the artistic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. In addition to his conducting and composition credits, Thomas is a published author, having written Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual, and numerous journal articles.

Early life Thomas grew up in Wichita, Kansas with his two sisters and mother. Thomas's mother cleaned buses for Continental Trailways and sang in church. According to Thomas, this singing initiated his fascination with music.

Upon entering junior high school, Thomas decided to pursue piano formally. He began taking lessons at Wichita State University, and by eighth grade, he won the Federated Music Clubs Piano Competition.

While the discomfort may have continued throughout high school, it did not stop him from being actively involved in music and composition. At 16, Thomas accepted the role of Minister of Music at Tabernacle Baptist Church. He began arranging music to meet the needs of his choir. However, his time as a music minister was not easy. Many of the choir members balked at taking instructions from such a young person. This created enough tension for him to eventually leave the choir. Thomas has conducted 49 All-State high school choirs, and has twice conducted the World Youth Choir.

André Jerome Thomas is published by a number of publishers including Hinshaw Music and Gentry Publications; and Choristers Guild https://www.choristersguild.org/store/cga718-i-will-sing-praises/3872/

Selected works Non-compositional works “What They See is What You Get”- instructional video on choral conducting with Rodney Eichenberger “Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice”- instructional video on adolescent voices with Anton Armstrong Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual. Dayton, OH: Heritage Music Press, 2007.

Choral compositions Keep Your Lamps! (TB/TTB/TTBB), Hinshaw Music, 2017 Glory to God (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 2015 Until I Found the Lord (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/2674h, 2009 Until I Found the Lord (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2673h, 2009 Walk in My Shoes (SATB), Hinshaw Music, HMC2241, 2009 My Good Lord's Done Been Here (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2480H, 2009 Go Down’n the Valley and Pray (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2348H, 2007 Beautiful City (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/2124H 2006 Walk in the Light (SATB) Choristers Guild, CGA 1063 2006 Walk in the Light (2pt) Choristers Guild, 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 Music Press, 15/2023h, 2005 I’m Gonna Sing (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/2023h, 2005 Barbara Allen (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/1986h 2005 Barbara Allen (TBB), Heritage Music Press, pending 2005 Good News (SSA), Heritage Music Press, 15/1886h, 2004 Good News (TTB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1890h, 2004 Fences (SATB), Heritage Music Press, 15/1797h 2003 Swing Down Chariot (SATB), Heritage Music 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), Heritage Music Press, 15/1665h 2001 I Hear America Singing (2 Part) Heritage Music Press, 15/1655H 2001 The Drinking Gourd (2 Part), Heritage Music Press, 15/1564h 2000 Heaven (SATB), Mark Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1999 I Open My Mouth, Hinshaw Music, HMC1168 1990 Heaven (TTBB), Mark Foster Music Co., MF 1016, 1988 Ride the Chariot, Hinshaw Music, HMC931 1987 I’m A Rollin’, Hinshaw Music, 1986

Organizations and awards Florida American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)- past president Southern Division ACDA- past president ACDA-national board member, National Chair of Ethnic Music and Minority Concerns Committee Honored as a Living Legend by the African Diaspora Sacred Music and Musicians program Distinguished Service Award by Chorus America Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music-Florida State University International Federation for Choral Music National Association for Music Education (formerly Music Educators National Conference) American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) International Society for Music Education Pi Kappa Lambda Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Choristers Guild - National Board of Directors

Conducting credits (highlights) London Symphony Orchestra City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England Berlin Radio Choir in Germany Netherlands Radio Choir Charlotte Symphony Tallahassee Symphony China’s People’s Liberation Orchestra Czech National Symphony Orchestra