As Director of The Juilliard School's Pre-College Division since 1994, Dr. Andrew Thomas upholds a legacy of superior music education for children. The Pre-College program, of which several Park Avenue Chamber Symphony members are alumni, provides orchestra, chamber music, private instrumental lessons, music theory and ear training to some of the most talented students in the New York Area.
     From its inception in 1916 as the Preparatory Department to the present, Juilliard's Pre-College program has shaped the musical lives of many talented children. Some of those children have become famous musicians, others pursue careers in business, teaching, medicine, law, and science. Whatever their ultimate goal, graduation from the Juilliard Pre-College Division is an impressive accomplishment.
     A renown composer, conductor and educator, Dr. Thomas career clearly demonstrates a substantial commitment to music education. Dr. Thomas has held teaching positions in composition and music theory at The Juilliard School, Guangxi Arts College (Nanning, China), International String Festival (Lancut, Poland), St. Bernard’s School, Sarah Lawrence College and The Summer West program of the San Francisco Conservatory.
     Dr. Thomas has performed around the world and is recorded on the Opus One records, GM, Newport Classics, CRI, Folkways and other labels. His music is published by Margun Music and The American Composers Alliance.
Dr. Thomas’ works have been performed by The Shreveport Symphony, The Deutsches Symphonie Orchester, Sinfonica Siciliana, The St. Louis Symphony, The Orpheus Ensemble, St. Lukes Chamber Ensemble, The Virtuosi Wind Quintet and The American Brass Quintet.
     Dr. Thomas received MS and DMA degrees from the Juilliard School where he studied composition with Elliot Carter, Otto Luening, Gustave Reese, Burrill Phillips and Luciano Berio. He received a BA degree from Cornell University where he studied composition with Karel Husa, Robert Palmer, Donald Grout and John Kirkpatrick. He also studied with Nadia Boulanger.
     Before his position as Director of Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, he was Artistic Director of the American Composer’s Alliance Concerts at The American Place Theater, Artistic Director of The Lenox Arts Center, General Manager of The Composer’s Forum.
     As a pianist, Dr. Thomas has performed in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China (Guangzhou, Nanning and Guelin). Dr. Thomas has conducted orchestras around the world, including performances of music spanning the 18 to 20th centuries.
     Dr. Thomas has been awarded prizes from The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York Foundation for the Arts, The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, New York State Arts Council Matching Grant and the Thorne Music Fund Grant. He is a member of the ACA and BMI