"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, The Satori Chamber Group, 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 "), 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 Parnters" program. Future projects include a recording with the British chamber group "rarescale", and performances with the Israeli chorus "Naked Voices."

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.

2007-2008 Performances:

	July 17, 2007: A performance of "Short Suite" by Carla Rees (alto flute), Paul Goodey (cor anglais), Sarah Watts (bass clarinet). London, England.
	August 15, 2007: Carla Rees will perform "Steeples in my Soul" in France, at the Festival Riez la Romaine.
	November 4, 2007: Premeire performance of "Juliet" for soprano, violin, organ, and bells; at the recital of organist Donald Sutherland. 4PM, Griswold Hall, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, MD. Donald Sutherland, organ; Elizabeth Dow, soprano; Matt Horwitz-Lee, violin; Asheton Lemay, tubular bells.
	November 8, 2007: Marji and Benjamin Harding will perform my Oboe Sonata at The University of Hartford; Hartford, CT.
	November 9, 2007: Carl Cranmer will premiere Piano Sonata #3, commissioned by the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association and The Music Teacher's National Association, at their conference at West Chester University. Also in the conference: a performance of WARSONG (Whitman texts), by soprano Annie Sciolla, Mary Ellen Desmond, and pianist Terry Klinefelter (2:15PM).
	November 11, 2007: Eileen Clark (soprano), Megan Friar (mezzo-soprano) and Mimi Stern-Wolfe (piano) will perform WARSONG in Greenwich Village, NYC, at The East Village Concert Series "Armistice Day: War and Pieces" concert. St. Marks in the Bowery, 131 East 10th Street and 2nd Avenue. 3PM. Suggested donation: $10. Also pieces by Carolyn Steinberg, Sima Wolf, David Hollister, and George Butterworth.
	November 13, 2007: Premiere of "Moment" for bass flute and bass clarinet, at the London New Wind Festival. St. Cyprian's Church, Glentworth St. London NW1 6AX, 8PM. Carla Rees, bass flute; Sarah Watt, bass clarinet. Also works by Daniel Kessner, Sungji Hong, and Michael Oliva.
	November 14, 2007: A concert with fellow UArts Composition Faculty member Norman David. Performances of our compositions for oboe, featuring Philadelphia Orchestra oboist Jonathan Blumenfeld. Also, a second performance of Piano Sonata #3, by Carl Cranmer.
	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. NYC.
	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.
	January, 2009: O Magnum Mysterium will be performed in Israel by the chorus Naked Voices, directed by Tamir Chasson, and broadcast on Israeli radio.
	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.
	Spring, 2009: Performance of "Rondo Capriccioso" for alto saxophone and piano; at the recital of saxophonist Greg Riley. West Chester University.
	April 26, 2009: Premiere of a new work for soprano, flute, cello and piano; for the Essex Chamber Music Players, on texts by Anne Bradstreet. Three perfomances in Massachusetts.