Thomas Ly

Thomas Ly is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree in trombone performance at the University of Texas at Austin under Dr. Nathaniel Brickens where he is serving as the Graduate Teaching Assistant to the Longhorn Band. He is also a member of the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Texas Trombone Choir. Thomas Previously earned A Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Bachelor’s of Music in trombone performance from the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied under Dr. Ben McIlwain. During his time at Southern Miss, he was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Opera, and the Trombone Choir and Select Trombone Octet. He is also an alumnus of Southern Miss’s Eta Phi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

During his performance career, Thomas has performed with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Opera, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, and has played at Natchez Opera Festival. Thomas has also performed at the College Band Director National Association with the Southern Miss Wind Ensemble at the 2018 and 2019 conferences. Recently, he also performed at the Texas Music Educators Association with the UT Wind Ensemble.

Thomas also has a deep passion for teaching. During his undergrad, he had a number of private students who have earned placements in the Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band. Thomas currently serves as a private lessons instructor in Austin ISD at Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders and Kealing Middle School.

Outside of music, Thomas enjoys exploring new recipes to cook, exploring the local coffee and restaurant scenes in Austin, and going for hikes. He is also an active competitive powerlifter in the United States Powerlifting Association and the United States of America Powerlifting federations.