Jennifer Thomas (pianist)

Jennifer Thomas
Background information
Born	(1977-06-23) June 23, 1977[1]
Origin	Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres	Classical, crossover, new-age.
Instruments	Piano, violin
Labels	Independent
Website	www.jenniferthomasmusic.com

Jennifer Thomas (born June 23, 1977) is a multi award winning American pianist, violinist, composer, performing artist, and recording artist. She was classically trained at Brigham Young University-Idaho,^[2] and started composing in 2003, later releasing her first debut album in 2007. Thomas has issued four albums, the latest 'Winter Symphony' released in November 2015.^[3][4]

Thomas is known for writing and performing piano-centered orchestral music from classical music to classical music crossover and cinematic orchestral. While most of her works are original, she also covers classical pieces as well as pop music and movie soundtracks. Thomas has also composed film scores, where she won the Gold Medal of Excellence in the 2011 Park City Film Music Festival for "Music in a Short Film" ^[5] as well as a 2012 Hollywood Music in Media Award for "Best Film Score for Documentary/Short".^[6]

In 2012 Thomas was named Classical Crossover UK's "Female Artist of the Year".^[7]

Thomas' third album, "Illumination" won "Album of the Year" and "Artist of the Year" at the 2013 IMC Awards.^[8][9] In October 2015 "Illumination" also won the "Classical Song of the Year" International Music and Entertainment Association Award ^[10] and the Enlightened Piano Radio Award for "Best piano album with instrumentation" at Carnegie Hall New York City - where she performed live at the awards ceremony.^[11]

Winter Symphony - Jennifer Thomas (pianist) album Thomas' fourth album was released in November 2015. Mixed by 5 time Grammy Award winner Brian Vibberts, contributors included Ricky Kej and Taylor Davis (violinist). Following the album release, Thomas performed concerts at Salt Lake City, Atascocita, Texas and the Benaroya Hall Seattle.^[2] The album has received many favorable reviews and during 2016 won several prestigious awards.

Discography

Albums:

• Key of Sea (2007)^[12]
• The Lullaby Album, Vol 1 (2009)^[13]
• The Lullaby Album, Vol 2 (2009)^[14]
• Illumination (2012)^[15]
• Winter Symphony (2015).^[16][17]

Thomas also features on the following albums;

• Best of the Swan Lake: 2007 Moving Image & Music Award (2007) - Fly Away, Release, The Tempest ^[18]
• Roads: The Many Miles Music Artists (2014) - Into the Forest^[19]
• These Miles (2014) - Jonathan Estabrooks ^[20]
• Love Language (Grammy nomination 2015) - Wouter Kellerman.^[21][22][23]
• Dream It (2015) - sv:Viktoria Tocca ^[24]
• Merry Christmas (2015) - sv:Viktoria Tocca ^[25]

Film and TV

List:

• 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Hannah Miller, Short program ^[26]
• 2014 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Zagreb, Karen Chen ^[27]
• 2013 International Skating Union, Angela Wang JGP Baltic Cup Junior Ladies Short program ^[28]
• 2013 "Running the Edge", directed by Matt Trappe, song placements^[29]
• 2011 Film score "Minuet", directed and written by Ryan K. McNeal, score by Jennifer Thomas ^[30][31]
• 2012 National Basketball Association Sports placements ^[32]
• 2012 NBC Universal Sports placements^[33]
• 2014 MGM Equal Justice (TV series) placements ^[34]
• 2008 "Reasons", Poor Boyz Productions^[35]

Awards and nominations

Early life

Thomas was born in Seattle, Washington (state). She got her first toy piano at the age of 3, and began formal lessons on both the piano and violin at the age of 5, under the tutelage of her mother, Carolyn Southworth.^[9] Her brothers also learned piano, violin, and cello from their mother. Jennifer and her older brother played in grade school orchestras, with Southworth as a conductor's assistant. Thomas continued to train classically, and was involved in many recitals and piano adjudications through her teen years. She played with various youth orchestras and high school orchestras. She performed at her high school graduation, and later went to Brigham Young University-Idaho.^[9]

At Brigham Young University-Idaho, Thomas studied piano under Professor Stephen Allen. She was a member of the university's Piano Ensemble group, accompanied the College choir and many vocal/instrumental students, as well as played violin in the university symphony. Thomas also competed in the University's Concerto Competition, where she took 2nd place performing the Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev).^[9]

After college graduation, Thomas moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and was a regular performer with the Temple Square Concert Series, and played violin in the Murray, Utah Symphony Orchestra. While performing with the Murray Symphony, Thomas was a featured soloist on the Edward MacDowell Piano Concerto No.2.^[66] She eventually moved to Northwest, where she performed as a violinist with the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and worked for the Seattle Symphony in the Education Department. It was during her time working for the Seattle Symphony when she started composing her own original music.

Personal life

Thomas is married to Will Thomas, an ultra-marathon competitor who, in 2015, competed in the 106 mile race Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France. Together, they have three children and reside in the Seattle Washington (state) area.^[9]

References

External links

• Jennifer Thomas official website
• Illumination music video
• All Music
• Reviews
• WordPress Musical Meanderings
• Interview