"The chamber works of David Bennett Thomas may be categorized as neo-Romantic, neo-tonal, or even as a kind of sophisticated "fusion classical," but these terms by themselves are inadequate to describe the complex mixtures of elements in his music. His strongest pieces reveal both modernist influences and contemporary applications, though blended to sound original and whole, not like self-concious parodies or pastiches. Thomas is shrewd enough not to wear his influences on his sleeve, and these presumed sources are reworked with jazz harmonies and influences in an idiosyncratic but distinctive post-modern approach." -All Media Guide

Biography:

David Bennett Thomas (b. 1969) received degrees from West Chester University (B.S.), and The Peabody Conservatory (M.M.). His private teachers include Lukas Foss, Ron Thomas, Jacques Voois, Michael Connell, and Donald Chittum.

Thomas has written in many genres, including works for solo voice, chorus, orchestra, chamber groups, and piano. His works have been performed throughout America and abroad, by groups such as The Gregg Smith Singers, The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, rarescale, The New York Treble Singers, The New Carillon Ensemble, Relache, Naked Voices (Israel), Melomanie, The Mark Morris Dance Group Music Ensemble, pianists Matthew Bengtson and Charles Abramovic, soprano Rosalind Rees, cellist Jeffrey Solow, saxophonist Marshall Taylor, The Orchestral Society of Philadelphia, and many others. His music has also been performed at The Festival of the Hamptons, The Bethlehem Guitar Festival, and The New York Flute Club. Mr. Thomas has served as composer in residence at The Adirondack Festival of American Music.

Thomas has received grants from The American Composers Forum (Subito, Community Partners), The University of the Arts, and The Peabody Conservatory to support the recording of several of his compositions; which have been released on Capstone Records ("Chamber Works" CPS 8754; "Songs of Seasons" CPS 8791)), Arizona University Recordings ("A Tribute to Adolphe Sax, Vol. IX "), rarescale records ("rarescale plays David Bennett Thomas" rr003) and his first recording "The Music of David Bennett Thomas, Volume One." Thomas' music has been heard on WWFM's 'Divertimento' program, WVUD's 'Fine Tunings' program, WRTI's "Now Is The Time", as well as WBAR 87.9 FM, New York. His music has been published by Shawnee Press, and Tetractys Publications. Critics have refered to his music as "convincing on both structural and emotional levels...music that speaks with no pretension" (The Classical Source); "immediately engaging...playful, soulful, technically dazzling, and often acutely communicative (Philadelphia Music Makers); "honest and completely convincing" (The Daily Local); "concise and comprehensible, though he doesn't talk down to the listener or subscribe to any isms...this is a composer with an individual voice" (American Record Guide).

Recent commissions have come from The New York Treble Singers, The Chester County Pops Orchestra, The Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, The Chester County Choral Society, The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and The American Composers Forum "Community Partners" program. Future projects include performances and live broadcasts with the Israeli chorus "Naked Voices," in Jerusalem, Israel. He has also recently taught masterclasses in Santiago, Chile.

Thomas won the Philadelphia Young Composers competition, and the Morawetz Award in Composition. He is also the author of "A Conversation with Lukas Foss", which was published in 'The Journal of the Conductors Guild,' and subsequently published by Carl Fischer. Thomas teaches theory, composition, and piano at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and performs with his jazz group three nights a week at Sullivan's Steakhouse, in King of Prussia, PA.

2008-2009 Performances:

January 17, 2008: Victoria Phillips will perform "Steeples in my Soul" for solo alto flute, at The University of Nottingham, England.
February 15, 2008: The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia will perform "Chanting to Paradise," a piece for SSAATTBB chorus, on a poem by Emily Dickinson. The Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator, 51st and Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA.
March 11, 2008: Lisa Bost will perform my alto flute piece "Steeples In My Soul" at Iowa State University, in Ames, IA.
April 1, 2008: premiere of "Heaven's River" for women's chorus and piano by the New York Treble Singers. Texts by Tu Fu (712-770 AD). Christ and Saint Stephen's Church, 120 69th Street at Broadway; New York City. 8PM
April 16, 2008: another performance of "Steeples in my Soul" by Lisa Bost (alto flute), at the Unveristy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
May 4th, 2008: premiere of "By The Brandywine", for Adult Choir, Youth Choir, and piano. Commissioned by The Chester County Choral Society, Gary Garletts, director. Performed by The Chester County Chorale Society, and the Rustin High School Chorus. Funded by The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 4PM, Rustin High School, West Chester, PA.
May 21, 2008: premiere of "A Night There Lay The Days Between" for the Unionville High School Choral, directed by Jason Throne. Texts by Emily Dickinson, SATB choir. Commissioned by The American Composers Forum "Community Partners" program.
June 20, 2008: premiere of "Edifice" for bass clarinet and piano. Performed by Sarah Watts and Antony Clare of SCAW. Southwell Minster Cathedral; Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. Lunch concert.
July 17, 2008: performance of "Moment" for bass flute and bass clarinet, by Carla Rees and Sarah Watts. The Space, Westferry Road, London. Also pieces by Michale Oliva, and Daniel Kessner.
September 13th and 14th, 2008: performances of "Songs of Seasons" (SATB Chorus, soloists, piano) by Musical Associates; Emery DeWitt, director. Both concerts are in Lancaster, PA. September 13 at Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1601 Sunset Ave; and September 14 at First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange Street. The concert will be filled with choral music dealing with the four seasons, including Copland, Lauridsen, Sweelinck, Morley, and others.
October 1, 2008: performance of "Bomb Bomb" for trombone and piano, by Jarred Antonacci (trombone) and Matthew Bengtson (piano). In the new University of the Arts Recital Hall, on the 17th floor of the Terra Building; Broad and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia. 10:15AM.
October 20, 2008: Premiere of "I Dream A World", a setting of poems by Langston Hughes in memory of Martin Luther King, Jr, composed for Ron Kerber and The University of the Arts Transfusion Ensemble's concert "1968". Scored for soprano voice, tenor voice, and ten-piece jazz ensemble (soprano sax, tenor sax, baritone sax/bass clarinet, two trumpets, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums).
October 24, 2008: premiere of "The Island" for women's chorus, on texts by Langston Hughes. Commissioned by The New York Treble Singers. Christ and Saint Stephen's Church, 120 W. 69th Street (at Broadway), NYC. 8PM.
October 25, 2008: New Music Concert in Lancaster, PA. Premieres of "Three Studies" by Matthew Bengtson (piano), and "Bomb Bomb" with Jarred Antonacci (trombone) and Matthew Bengtson (piano). Wheatland Presbyterian Church.
October 29, 2008: "Partita" for solo violin will be performed by Leah Kim, as part of the concert series at The Philadelphia Cathedral, 7:30PM.
December 8, 2008: "Moment" for bass flute and bass clarinet will be played at All Saint's Art Centre, London UK, by Carla Rees and Sarah Watts. 6:15PM.
December 11, 2008: "Edfice" for bass clarinet and piano will be performed by SCAW (Sarah Watts, bass clarinet; and Antony Claire, piano), in Bangor, North Ireland. Evening concert.
December 29th: "O Magnum Mysterium" will be performed by the Israeil chorus Naked Voices, directed by Tamir Chasson. Jerusalem, Israel.
January 29, 2009: Naked Voices will perform "O Magnum Mysterium", and be broadcasted live on Kol Hamusica, Israel Broadcast Authority's Classical Music Channel, from the Henry Crowne Auditorium, Jerusalem Theatre, Jerusalem. 17:00. Listen live at http:/www.iba.org.il/media, and click on "Kol Hamusica".
February 8, 2009: SCAW (Sarah Watts, bass clarinet; and Antony Claire, piano), will play "Edifice" at their CD launch. The Space, London, evening concert.
February 15, 2009: Performance of "Bomb Bomb" for trombone and piano, by Jarred Antonacci, (trombone), at The Philadelphia Salon Series, in the home of Andrea Clearfield.
February 28; March 11, Performances of "Edifice" for bass clarinet and piano. Sarah Watts, bass clarinet; Antony Clare, piano. England.
March 3, 2009: Performance of "Bomb Bomb". Recital of trombonist Jarred Antonacci, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Matthew Bengtson, piano.
March 7th and 8th, 2009: Chicago Choral Artists will perform "Chanting to Paradise," Donald Nally, conductor.
March 13, 2009: Jeffrey Solow will perform "Sonata for Solo Cello" as part of Bargemusic's "American Contemporary Music Series," which hosts concerts taking place on a floating barge near the Brooklyn Bridge. www.bargemusic.org.
April 10, 2009: premiere performance of "To Know Just How He Suffered Would Be Dear," for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, and cello. Wheatland Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA. Also premieres of Matthew Monticchio and Ron Thomas.
April 20, 2009: performance of arrangement of Josef Zawinul's "In A Silent Way" for the Transfusion Ensemble (10-piece jazz ensemble). The University of the Arts, Philadelphia.
April 26, 2009: Premiere of "Contemplations" for soprano, flute, cello and piano; by the Essex Chamber Music Players. Texts by Anne Bradstreet. Northern Essex Community College Tech Center, 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, Massachusetts 01830. 2:30PM.
May 17, 2009: Performance of "Sonata for Solo Cello" for The Violoncello Society, Inc; at The Koscuisko Foundation. 15 E. 65th Street, NYC. Jeffrey Solow, cello.
May 25, 2009: Performance of "Edifice" for bass clarinet and piano, by SCAW (Sarah Watts, bass clarinet; Antony Clare, piano). North London, UK.
May 19, 2009: Performance of "WarSong" by soprano Jeanmarie Lally, mezzo soprano Sarah Rose Taylor, and pianist Chip Prince. St. Bartholomew's Church, Park Avenue between 50th and 51st Sts. New York City, 7:30PM. http://www.stbarts.org/greatmusic.asp
June 27, 2009: Premiere of "Whim" for solo flute, as part of the Dolce Suono's Metal and Wood Band concert, in collaboration with the Philadelphia chapter of The American Composers Forum. Mimi Stillman, flute. Philadelphia, PA.
November 15, 2009: Performance of "Contemplations" for soprano, flute, cello, and piano; by the Essex Chamber Music Players. North Parish Church, North Andover, MA.
December, 2009: Premiere of "Mass" for chorus and organ. The University of the Arts Concert Choir, Jeffrey Kern, conductor. Philadelphia, PA.
February 28, 2010: Performance of "Three Pieces for Clarinet and Piano" by Brian and Joshua Kovach. At the Clearfield February salon, Philadelphia PA.