Stephen Thomas, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, performs with exciting and insightful musicianship as soloist, collaborative musician, and with orchestra.  His performances have reached audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.  Past engagements include solo performances with several California orchestras, as well as concerts in cities from Kyoto to Copenhagen. Performances for the 2007-08 season included tours of Mexico, Denmark, and Romania.             

              Dr. Thomas has recorded performances for television and radio broadcast for stations such as WQXR in New York City.  His most recent recording, “Music of Two Worlds,” explores solo piano works by Haydn, Brahms, and South American composers was released in November 2007 and is available at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/stephenthomas.  He has also recorded and performed with principal players of the San Francisco Symphony in concerts throughout the Bay Area, including an appearance at Davies Hall for the Symphony’s Chamber Series: http://www.fishcreekmusic.com/fcm_cds.htm.  Other recent performances have included solo recitals in the Sonora Bach Festival (California) and Temple Square Performances in Salt Lake City, as well as regular chamber music concerts in the Musica Viva series in Fresno. 

              Dr. Thomas has received grants from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, the University of Michigan, and the California State University, Stanislaus chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for his research, performance, and recordings of various piano works.  He has also received numerous awards for his playing and teaching, being much sought after for master class and lecture presentations for organizations such as the Music Teachers Association of California for whom he has been featured as a state convention artist. 

              Dr. Thomas holds degrees in piano performance from Brigham Young University, Yale University, and the University of Michigan, having studied with Irene Peery, Claude Frank, Peter Frankl, and Arthur Greene.  Since his appointment to the faculty of the Department of Music at California State University, Stanislaus in 1996, he founded the Sylvia M. Ghiglieri Piano Competition, and the Piano Sessions of Summer Music at Stanislaus.         

             After serving as Chair of the Department of Music from 2000-2006, and as  Acting Dean of the College of the Arts during the 2006-2007 academic year, Dr. Thomas has since returned to full-time teaching.

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