April 5, 2023
The Butler School of Music is pleased to announce the hire of Ebonee Thomas as our new Assistant Professor of Flute beginning in fall 2023. Thomas, a Burkart piccolo artist, joins us from University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory.
Thomas is the Second Flute and Piccolo for The Dallas Opera, and has previously served as Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony, Principal Flute of the Florida Grand Opera, and Second Flute of the Houston Symphony. She spends her summers as a flutist with the Central City Opera in Colorado, and has been guest principal with symphonies and operas across the country. A passionate pedagogue, Thomas served as a member of the board of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras and is on the National Advisory Board of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. She is also currently the Piccolo Committee Chair for the National Flute Association.
An avid chamber musician, Thomas has worked with the Austin Chamber Music Society and Voices of Change, a new music ensemble in Dallas. She was a finalist for the Austin Arts Awards for her performance of Valerie Coleman’s Danza de la Mariposa. She recently made her debut performance with the ensembleNEWSRQ, a contemporary ensemble highlighting living and underrepresented composers.
She has also participated in unique projects — like serving as Principal Flute of the Star Wars in Concert! Orchestra during their U.S., Canada, and Mexico tours. Additionally, she was part of the Re-Collective Orchestra, the first all-Black orchestra to perform to a sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl. She has performed all over the world, and some of her favorite venues include The Elbphilarmonie in Germany and Musiikkitalo in Finland.
Thomas received her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance degree from Southern Methodist University and her Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory of Music.
More information about Thomas and her work can be found at https://www.eboneethomas.com/.