Jennifer Thomas (pianist)

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For other people named Jennifer Thomas, see Jennifer Thomas (disambiguation).
Jennifer Thomas
Background information
Born (1977-06-23) June 23, 1977 (age 46)
OriginSeattle, Washington
GenresClassical, crossover, new-age.
InstrumentsPiano, violin
LabelsTickled Ivory Music (Independent), Avex Entertainment (Japan)
Websitewww.jenniferthomasmusic.com

Jennifer Thomas (born June 23, 1977) is an American pianist, violinist, composer, performing artist, and recording artist. She was classically trained starting at the age of 5, and began composing in 2003, later releasing her debut album in 2007.[1][2][3]

Thomas has issued seven albums, The Fire Within, was released in October 2018, and debuted at number 3 in the Billboard Classical music charts, number 2 in their Classical Crossover music charts, and number 25 in the Top Heatseekers.[4][5][6]

Several of her original compositions and arrangements have been used in routines by International Skating Union Ice skaters at the 2022 Winter Olympics and by 2020 Summer Olympics gymnasts.[7]

Thomas's YouTube video recordings have achieved a total of over 14 million views, with over 3.5 million viewing a live concert performance of her arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" from her 2015 Christmas album, Winter Symphony. This performance was in December 2015 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, with the Ensign Symphony & Chorus.

Early life[edit]

Thomas was born in Seattle, Washington. She got her first toy piano at the age of 3 and began formal lessons on both the piano and violin at the age of 5, under the tutelage of her mother, Carolyn Southworth.[8] Her brothers also learned piano, violin, and cello from their mother. Jennifer and her older brother played in grade school orchestras, with Southworth as a conductor's assistant. Thomas continued to train classically and was involved in many recitals and piano adjudications through her teen years. She played with various youth orchestras and high school orchestras. She performed at her high school graduation and later went to Brigham Young University - Idaho.[8]

At Brigham Young University–Idaho, Thomas studied piano under Professor Stephen Allen. She was a member of the university's Piano Ensemble group and accompanied the college choir and many vocal/instrumental students as well as playing violin in the university symphony. Thomas also competed in the university's Concerto Competition, where she took second place performing the Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev).[8]

After college graduation, Thomas moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she was a regular performer with the Temple Square Concert Series and played violin in the Murray Symphony orchestra. While performing with the Murray Symphony, Thomas was a featured soloist on the Edward MacDowell Piano Concerto No. 2.[9] She eventually moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she performed as a violinist with the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and worked for the Seattle Symphony in the Education Department. It was during her time working for the Seattle Symphony when she started composing her own original music.

Career[edit]

Thomas is known for writing and performing piano-centered orchestral music from classical music to crossover music and cinematic orchestral epic music. While most of her works are original, she also covers classical pieces as well as pop music and movie soundtracks. Thomas has also composed film scores. She won the Gold Medal of Excellence in the 2011 Park City Film Music Festival for "Music in a Short Film"[10] as well as a 2012 Hollywood Music in Media Award for "Best Film Score for Documentary/Short".[11]

Thomas' third album, Illumination, won "Album of the Year" and "Artist of the Year" at the 2013 IMC Awards.[12][8] In October 2015 Illumination also won the "Classical Song of the Year" International Music and Entertainment Association Award,[13] and the Enlightened Piano Radio Award for "Best piano album with instrumentation" at Carnegie Hall New York City – where she performed live at the awards ceremony.[14]

Winter Symphony, Thomas' fourth album was released in November 2015. Mixed by five time Grammy Award winner Brian Vibberts, contributors included Glen Gabriel, Ricky Kej and Taylor Davis (violinist). Following the album release, Thomas performed concerts at Salt Lake City, Atascocita, Texas and the Benaroya Hall Seattle. The album has received many favorable reviews and during 2016 won several prestigious awards.

In March 2017, Thomas arranged an orchestral cover of the Beauty and the Beast (Disney song) featuring cellist Armen Ksajikian to coincide with the release of the Walt Disney Pictures and Mandeville Films movie Beauty and the Beast (2017 film).
During July 2017 Thomas collaborated with poet J.ournal to produce a double award-winning track and video Nine Twelve, a powerful 9/11 reminder message,[15] October 2017 saw a 10-year special re-mastered edition of her 2007 album Key of Sea.

On 12 October 2018, Thomas widely released a Billboard charting classical/cinematic music styled album titled The Fire Within which she previewed live in concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.[16][17] During the winter of 2018 a composition by Thomas, A Beautiful Storm, was used in ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating gold medal programmes by Rika Kihira from Japan.[18] Following this a partnership was established with Avex Entertainment to promote her album Key of Sea in Japan[19][20]

Commencing June 19, 2019, Thomas embarked on a well-received summer concert tour of the western United States.[21][22][23] During 2019 more ice skating recognition of her music continued when her composition “Illumination” was performed to in a free skate program by American Alysa Liu to win the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the United States.[24] Liu retained the title in 2020 skating to the same composition.[25] 2020 also saw Cha Jun-hwan win the South Korean figure skating championships performing to the Thomas and Kimberly StarKey composition The Fire Within.[26]

In March 2021, Thomas's music was performed in the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships by Rika Kihira, Cha Jun-hwan and Alexandra Feigin and in April by Rika Kihira for the ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo, Japan July 2021, saw her original composition Winter Symphony performed by Russian Olympic Committee gold medallist gymnast Vladislava Urazova[27] and her arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy used in a routine by 21st placed finalist gymnast Lee Yun-seo from South Korea.[28] At the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing China, Karen Chen representing Team USA (who won a silver medal) skated to a Jennifer Thomas, Escala (group) and Hugo Choinard mix of "Requiem for a Tower" and "Requiem for a Dream", composed by Clint Mansell.[29]

In December 2023 Thomas released her 7th album 'Classical Reimagined Vo1 1' featuring her own piano arrangements of classical works.

Personal life[edit]

Thomas is married to Will Thomas, an ultra-marathon competitor who, in 2015, competed in the 106-mile race Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France. Together, they have three children and reside in the Seattle, Washington area.[8]

Thomas has traced her heritage through her maiden name of Southworth, and on 28 March 2023 she visited Samlesbury Hall, Lancashire, England, which was built by Gilbert de Southworth (b. 1270). She was bestowed with honorary membership of the hall.[30]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Album
2023 Classical Reimagined, Vol. 1
2018 The Fire Within - featuring Tina Guo
2017 Key of Sea (10 Year Special Edition)
2015 Winter Symphony (Jennifer Thomas album)
2012 Illumination (2012)
2009 The Lullaby Album, Vols 1 & 2
2007 Key of Sea (2007)

All Music [31]

Thomas also features on the following albums;

2022 Epic Women - The Shero's Journey [32]
2020 Father Can You Hear Me from the album 'Fearless' by Alexa Ray and Randall Jermaine.
2018 Spring of Fire – 92 Keys – Life and Death
2017 Sounds Of Christmas (MPi 2017 Edition)
2015 Merry Christmas – Viktoria Tocca
2015 Dream It – Viktoria Tocca
2015 Love Language (Grammy nomination 2015) – Wouter Kellerman
2014 These Miles – Jonathan Estabrooks
2014 Roads: The Many Miles Music Artists (2014) – Into the Forest
2009 The Best of Relaxation: A Lifescapes Music Collection - Playing Viola
2007 Best of the Swan Lake: 2007 Moving Image & Music Award – Fly Away, Release, The Tempest

Discogs [33]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Category Work Result Ref
2023 Prague International Sound Video Awards Etude for the Dreamer Won [34]
2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards The Adventurer - Epic/Orchestral Nominated [35]
2020 Classical Song of the Year International Music and Entertainment Awards The Fire Within Won [36]
2020 Music Video of the Year International Music and Entertainment Awards The Fire Within Nominated [36]
2019 Best Instrumental Music Video The Indie Gathering International Festival The Fire Within Won [37]
2019 Best Music Video Silicon Beach Film Festival The Fire Within Won [38]
2019 Contemporary Classical/Instrumental Hollywood Music in Media Awards Glorious Nominatated [39]
2019 Best Classical/Opera/A Cappella Peace Song Awards Glorious Nominatated [40]
2019 Best Music Video Peace Song Awards The Fire Within Nominatated [40]
2018 Producer/Production (with Glen Gabriel) Hollywood Music in Media Awards The Fire Within Nominatated [41]
2018 Classical Artist of the Year – IMEA Awards Key of Sea (10 Year Special Edition) Nominated [42]
2018 Classical Album of the Year – IMEA Awards Key of Sea (10 Year Special Edition) Nominated [42]
2018 Music Video of the Year – IMEA Awards A Beautiful Storm Nominated [42]
2018 Best Spoken Word – Roundglass Music Awards Nine Twelve (with J.ournal) Won [43]
2017 Best Message Song/Social Impact – Music Genre Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nine Twelve (with J.ournal) Won [44]
2017 Best Independent Music Video – Music In Visual Media Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nine Twelve (with J.ournal) Nominated [45]
2017 Best Original Score – Short Film – Music In Visual Media Hollywood Music in Media Awards Desert Rose Nominated [45]
2017 Best Music Video – Global Peace Song Awards Alleluia Won – Jury Vote [46]
2016 Holiday Album of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards Winter Symphony Won [47]
2016 Classical Artist of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards Winter Symphony Nominated [48]
2016 Classical Song of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards Winter Symphony Won [47]
2016 Music Video of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards Carol of the Bells Nominated [48]
2016 Global Peace Song Awards – Opera/Classical Eventide Won – Public Vote [46]
2016 Global Peace Song Awards – A Cappella/Choral Alleluia Won – Jury Vote [46]
2016 Best Music Video – Utah Music Awards Carol of the Bells Nominated [49]
2016 Best Cinematography in a Music Video – Utah Music Awards Carol of the Bells (cinematographer Tel Stewart) Won [50]
2016 Best Original Instrumental Song – Utah Music Awards Winter Symphony (Jennifer Thomas album) Nominated [49]
2016 Best in Holiday Genre – Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Won [51]
2016 Best LIVE Classical Performance (Live at Benaroya Hall) – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Won [52]
2016 Music Video of the Year Award (Alleluia) – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Won [53]
2016 Best Classical Music Video (Over $5,000) – Alleluia – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Won [54]
2016 Best Female Classical Artist – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Nominated [55]
2016 Best Classical Song – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Nominated [55]
2016 Holiday Album of the Year – Enlightened Piano Radio Awards Winter Symphony Nominated [56]
2016 Global Music Awards 2016 Winter Symphony Silver Medal [57]
2016 Album of the Year – Top 20 of 2015 Music Critic Michael Debbage Winter Symphony Won [58]
2015 Classical Song of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Awards Illumination Won [59]
2015 Best Orchestral Piano Album – Enlightened Piano Radio Awards Illumination Won [60]
2013 Album of the Year – Indie Music Channel Awards Illumination Won [12]
2013 Artist of the Year – Indie Music Channel Awards Illumination Won [61]
2013 Best Soundtrack Artist – Indie Music Channel Awards Illumination Won [62]
2013 Best Classical Artist – Indie Music Channel Awards Illumination Won [63]
2013 Best Neo-Classical Album – Zone Music Reporter Awards Illumination Nominated [64]
2012 Top Female Artist of the Year – Classical Crossover UK Illumination Won [65]
2012 The Indie Award – Classical Crossover UK Illumination Won [66]
2012 Best Original Score – Hollywood Music in Media Awards Minuet Won [67]
2012 Best Contemporary/Orchestral Song – Hollywood Music in Media Awards Illumination Nominated [68]
2012 Piano Heaven UK Illumination Won [69]
2012 Best Classical Song – Hollywood Music in Media Awards Moonlight Nominated [70]
2011 Best Classical Song – Hollywood Music in Media Awards Toccata and Fugue (Illumination) Nominated [71]
2011 Gold Medal of Excellence – Park City Film Music Festival Minuet Won [10]
2008 Swan Lake Music and Motion Picture Awards – Audience Vote Award Fly Away Won [72]
2007 Swan Lake Music and Motion Picture Awards – Digital Film Release Won [73]

Film and Televised ice skating and gymnastics events coverage[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

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