pro-Chorister

“I have been singing as a pro-chorister for 21 years. I grew up singing in some of the finest ensembles available under the direction of extremely talented and respected conductors. When I moved to California in 1999, I was encouraged to get a church singing gig, and that started an amazing journey of professional choral singing. When I moved to New York in 2007 I found the professional choral community of my dreams, and began a 13-year career as a professional chorister. I began singing for professional choral ensembles across the US when I was invited to join the Santa Fe Desert Choral, and soon I was being invited to join other professional ensembles.

In 2012, I was asked to sing Bass 3 (Octavist) for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s performances of the Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil. This was the first time to even try and sing Octavist repertoire. Within 3 years, this was almost all of the professional gigs I would be singing. In 2018, I sang with eight different professional choral ensembles in Russian Orthodox music, as an Octavist.”

Concert Soloist

“Since in high school, I have had many opportunities to sing as a soloist with choirs and orchestras. When I was senior in high school, I was a concerto winner with the Oak Park River Forest High School. In my freshman year at St. Olaf, I was a concerto winner with the St. Olaf Chamber Orchestra, and also placed 3rd in a regional NATS competition.

I have frequently sung the music of Bach as a soloist with ensembles like Bach in Baltimore. I was offered five opportunities to sing as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in New York City in large festival choir and orchestra concerts. My Carnegie Hall debut was Faure’s Requiem directed by my college choir director, Anton Armstrong.

I am happy to continue the Thoms Family history of professional soloist with includes my great-grandfather, Arthur Thoms, and grandfather William.

I am excited to be a featured soloist on Benedict Sheehan’s new recording of his Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom that was released on the Capella Romana music label in October 2020.”

Opera singer

“In December of 2005, I finished my DMA in Choral Conducting and wondered what would I would do with my extra time. My wife, Treva was currently working on her Master’s degree at University of Arkansas, and suggested that they needed a baritone for a performance of Cendrillon. I told her that I hated opera, but would at least go sing for them.

Well, that was the beginning of a new musical love. I was immediately hooked, and began to study voice with Elaine Cencel at the UofA. When I was offer the job at Concordia College New York, Elaine said I had to take it and see if I could make it as a singer in NY as well as a conductor. During the following decade I sang in over 20 opera performances in New York and the Baltimore area.

A highlight on the stage was singing the role of Leporello with the Regina Opera of Brooklyn. I have also created many new roles in the operas of Hollis Thoms including: John Wilkes Booth, Martin Luther, Socrates, Ancient Mariner, and a Irishman in ‘Conversations’.”