Chadwick Thomas is a clarinetist known for his imaginative, expressive interpretations of music both new and old. Thomas performs throughout the United States as a chamber musician and has played with artists such as violinist Vadim Gluzman, soprano Lucy Shelton, double bassists Donald Palma, James VanDemark, and Robert Black, oboist Alex Klein, and pianist Yujin Lee, with whom he regularly gives duo recitals. Thomas is a regular guest artist of the Eastern Shore Chamber Music Festival in Fairhope, AL and is active in contemporary music, having performed with Four Corners Ensemble, Atlantic Music Festival Contemporary Music Ensemble, and new music ensembles at The Hartt School and the University of Michigan. He received praise from composer Margaret Brouwer for his interpretation of her Clarinet Sonata, which was commissioned by the International Clarinet Association in 2023. Thomas has performed with orchestras in the Northeast including the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. In 2023 he performed the Clarinet Concerto by Jean Françaix with the Hartt Orchestra after winning the Paranov Concerto Competition. Recently delving into conducting, Thomas has conducted ensembles at The Hartt School and pursued conducting studies with Glen Adsit and Edward Cumming. In addition to performing, Thomas is passionate about teaching; he is currently adjunct faculty at The Hartt School (woodwind orchestra repertoire), has taught clarinet and chamber music at Interlochen Arts Camp since 2023, and was previously a teaching artist for the Kids' Orchestra program in Baton Rouge, LA.
Thomas studied at the Peabody Institute and the University of Michigan, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Hartt School. He received prizes from the NOLA Chamber Fest Competition, the International Clarinet Association’s Clareidoscope Competition, and the American Prize in Chamber Music, among others. Thomas studied clarinet with Ayako Oshima, Charles Neidich, Deborah Chodacki, Alexander Fiterstein, Douglas Moore-Monroe, Chad Burrow, and Daniel Gilbert.