Composer Hollis Thoms has spent his professional career as a teacher of music and English, a school administrator, and an active composer. He has had over 40 articles published in educational journals and written about 170 compositions for a variety of ensembles: operas, oratorios, symphonies, chamber works, sacred and secular vocal and choral works.

Mr. Thoms received a BA from Concordia University-Chicago, MM in composition from Northwestern, finished the course work for the PhD in composition from the Eastman School of Music, has an EdS in educational administration from the University of Toledo, and an MALA from St. John’s College, Annapolis. He has been the recipient of a number of fellowships: Joseph Klingenstein Fellowship to Columbia University Teachers College, an Alden B. Dow Creativity Fellowship, and a Fulbright Teacher Exchange to Scotland. In addition, he was selected to participate in the summer seminar for principals at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. His major compositions are in special collections at the Maryland State Archives, Folger Shakespeare Library, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford, England and the Church Music Center-Concordia University-Chicago.

The Bach Concert Series has previously premiered four of Mr. Thoms’ works:  Passion, based on the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Gospel of John and other religious poetry, on March 27, 2011; Isaac, based on the Abraham and Isaac Story, on October 7, 2012; for the 500th anniversary of the nailing of the 95 theses, a Luther opera, “And did the world with devils swarm,” on November 4 and 5, 2017; and Adam and Eve, based on John Milton’s Paradise Lost, on November 3, 2019. In 2018, a book entitled Memoirs: Through Music and Texts was published, which describes Mr. Thoms’ compositional journey.

Read Susan Brall’s interview with Hollis Thoms in the Maryland Theatre Guide.

Learn more at hollisthoms.com.