Broadway, Motion Picture, Pop Spectacular!

Nicholas Thomas is continuing in his 24th year at Moraine Valley Community College. In addition to directing the Moraine Chorale and Chamber Singers, Thomas teaches Class Piano 1 and 2, private piano lessons and keyboard skills I-IV as part of the music theory sequence. He has taught private voice lessons and Basic Musicianship in the past. He is chair of the Fine Arts and Humanities Department, which includes music, art, digital art, humanities, philosophy and theater, and has more than 75 faculty members.

In 2010, he was selected Professor of the Year by the faculty and administrators. In 2004, he was chosen Master Teacher by the Faculty Development Committee. In 2007, he was selected as the St. Genesius Award recipient by Lewis University in Romeoville. This award is given annually by the university to someone who has played an important role in promoting the Arts in the community and school. He is chair of the Academic Senate, serves on numerous faculty and administrative search committees, and was a member of the Vanguard Team. He has taken his chorus to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York and to the Vatican in Rome singing before Pope John Paul II.

For the past seven years, Thomas has been the Master of Ceremonies at the annual Memorial Day observance at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, which has attendance between 3,000 and 5,000 people. In addition, he has been vocalist at the ceremony for over 10 years, singing before President Barack Obama, Governor Bruce Rauner and Senator Dick Durbin.

Thomas has led choirs on concert tours throughout Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. He was music director/organist at the Cathedral of St. Raymond/Diocese of Joliet for over a quarter-century. Having retired from the Cathedral, he now is the director of music and organist at St. Isaac Joques Church in Hinsdale, which also is in the Diocese of Joliet.

Thomas has performed at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet and directed numerous choirs on the Rialto stage, including the Sing-along Messiah with chorus, vocalists and orchestra, as well as A Very Rialto Christmas: Making Merry Music concert with the Moraine Valley Chorale. He was a judge for the series of Rialto Idol competitions in 2010-15. Thomas has performed throughout the area as a vocal soloist and organist.

Thank you!

Mr. Thomas would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the following people who have made a donation to the “Build the Choral Library Program” for the Moraine Chorale and Chamber Singers. For most of our concerts, the chorale usually sings 14-15 songs, so any donations we receive, help to cover the music costs for one of our five annual concerts! On behalf of all our performers this evening, we want to say a big THANK YOU for your support.