Laura Thomas is a conductor, arranger, composer, percussionist and teacher. She is Music Director of the Dundas Valley Orchestra, as well as Artistic Director of the Hamilton/Niagara area WomEnchant Chorus & Drummers and conductor of Hamilton’s Singin’ Women chorus. Her past positions Music Director of the Niagara Youth Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Niagara based chamber choir, Choralis Camerata. She is also the Principal Percussionist of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra where she also served as Associate Conductor for thirteen years. Along with acclaimed flutist Douglas Miller, she developed the Flutes en Route! programs of orchestral, ensemble and educational concerts.
Her guest conducting appearances include Symphony on the Bay (Burlington), the Huronia Symphony, Etobicoke Philharmonic, the North York Concert Orchestra, and the Bard Chamber Orchestra. She was for many years, Director of the Niagara College Jazz Band. Ms. Thomas holds a masters degree in conducting from New York’s prestigious Bard College, where she studied with Harold Farberman. She is also a graduate of Hamilton’s Mohawk College and McMaster University, where she studied percussion and
composition.
In addition to her percussionist position with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, she has performed with many ensembles throughout Southern Ontario and Western New York, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the Te Deum Baroque Orchestra, and the Aradia Ensemble. She is a member of Niagara’s popular eclectic folk/blues band BroadBand, and performs regularly with her Vintage Jazz ensembles.
Ms. Thomas has written music for symphony orchestras, choirs, small ensembles, jazz groups and solos. Her compositions and arrangements can be heard in the orchestra and ensemble repertoire of Flutes en Route! featuring Douglas Miller and in the performances and recordings of BroadBand. In 2012 she composed and recorded the soundtrack for the play “Bullying Hurts” by Monica Dufault and produced by Mainstream Services in St. Catharines and, in March 2013, her Concerto for Jazz Trio and Orchestra was premiered by John Sherwood and the Niagara Youth Orchestra. Her recording credits include the Aradia Ensemble CD for Naxos Records, “Ballet Music for the Sun King”, the Niagara College Jazz Band’s “On the Move”, Rich Blend’s self titled CD, sisterLune’s “Wonder”, and BroadBand’s “LIVE at the Black Sea Hall” and “BroadBand”.
Past Shows
DATE: Monday, March 7, 2022
TIME: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
EVENT: Twilight Jazz and Blooz Series: Dames at the Distillery featuring the Betsy Tauro Quartet
VENUE: Spirit in Niagara Distillery (458 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
PRICE: In Advance: $39 + HST; At the Door: $49 + HST; Musicians/Arts Workers/Students: $19 + HST
Click here for event details