robert e. thomas

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Robert E. Thomas received his Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition from Rutgers University, where he studied with Charles Wuorinen, and a Mus.M. in composition from Boston University, where he studied with Lukas Foss and received a Director's Award. Dr. Thomas is an active composer, teacher, scholar and performer. His music has been presented around the country, including performances at the June In Buffalo and Music99 festivals and at the Conductor's Institute at Bard.

Currently teaching at The College of Saint Rose, he has taught Music Theory, Ear Training and Sight Singing, Orchestration, Computer Music, Music Technology, Music History, Class Piano, and Keyboard Harmony at The College of Saint Rose, Rutgers University, William Paterson University, Seton Hall University, Burlington County College, and Raritan Valley Community College. In addition to his composition and teaching activities, he is writing a book on music notation and is particularly interested in layered musical structures - the topic of his dissertation - and microtonal music. He is also creating an educational site (micrologus.retmusic.com) dedicated to the discussion of Music Theory and Music Notation, with a secondary area of interest in Music Technology.

Dr. Thomas has long entertained a fascination with Russian folk and twentieth-century music (in particular the music of Shostakovich and Schnittke), which began with a concert of Russian folk music he attended as a child. He also has an abiding interest in Russian and Ukrainian literature, especially the work of Gogol and Bulgakov. He has visited Ukraine twice, where he was able to experience folk music, art, and dance first hand.

He also does copyist work, has been a church music director for the past thirteen years, has taught private piano lessons, and is always on the lookout for a good cup of coffee.

News

October 25, 2011
Joe's Pub
New York City, NY

Sixteen Lines Circling a Square is scheduled to be performed by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) at Joe's Pub in New York City at 7:00 PM as part of the Sequenza21 / Manhattan New Music Project Concert. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette Stret, New York, NY. (08/27/2011)

February 7, 2010
Westminster Choir College
Princeton, NJ

Couplets is scheduled to be premiered at Wesminster Choir College's Bristol Chapel at 3:00 PM. Westminster Choir College is located at 101 Walnut Lane in Princeton, NJ. (01/05/10)

Studio Page Added
Click here to see the software and hardware I use in my work. (04/16/09, updated 01/22/11)

This site last updated: 27 August 2011
©1996 - 2011, Robert E. Thomas

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