Dr. David M. Thomas, Artistic Director

David M. Thomas enjoys a strong reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest as a conductor who fuses technique and artistry to provide a compelling and transformative musical experience.

Dr. Thomas excels as a choral musician through his unwavering commitment to healthy vocal production in the choir.  He attributes much of his success as a conductor and pedagogue to the early influence of his mother, Beverly (soprano and conductor), and his years of study and performance with Dr. Ronald Staheli.  Dr. Thomas (baritone) soloed in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s well-known weekly television broadcast, on the Mariinsky Theatre stage, and has prepared choirs or collaborated as a guest conductor with many prestigious ensembles including the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Newport Symphony Orchestra.

After earning additional degrees in Russian language (BA) and choral conducting (MM) at Brigham Young University, Dr.Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg Russia.  He has continually integrated Russian music in his performance and research, providing performance coaching for ensembles and soloists, and presenting scholarly work at national and regional level professional conferences.  Dr. Thomas is highly sought after as a clinician and adjudicator.  Artistic Director of Portland Choir & Orchestra since 2007, Dr. Thomas also finds great joy teaching and performing with his wife, Emily (Soprano), and together, raising their five children.