Greg Thomas

Greg Thomas

540-568-5052

Instructor

Greg Thomas received his bachelor's degree and Master of Music Education Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is entering his 4th year on the JMU faculty where he teaches instrumental arranging, improvisation, and conducts the Jazz Band. Before coming to JMU, Mr. Thomas taught for 34 years in the Albemarle County Public Schools system, including 26 years as the Band Director at Albemarle High School. During his tenure as a public-school band director, Mr. Thomas was twice recognized by the UVA chapter of Phi Delta Kappa as the "Outstanding Teacher." He was selected as "Charlottesville's Best Teacher," by C'Ville Magazine and was named "Jazz Educator of the Year" by the Charlottesville Jazz Society. In 2021, Mr. Thomas was honored to be inducted into the VBODA Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to music education in the state of Virginia. Under his direction, the Albemarle High School Band was recognized seventeen times by the VBODA as a "Virginia Honor Band." His jazz band was a three-time finalist at the Savannah Jazz Festival and a nine-time winner of the Chantilly Jazz Festival. He has presented multiple times at the state Virginia Music Educator Association conference on the subject of creativity in the instrumental ensemble. Mr. Thomas is a member of VMEA, VBODA, Phi Mu Alpha, and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician around the state. Mr. Thomas has been an active performer all over the United States, and has performed with Gladys Knight, Dee Dee Belson, Big Ray and the Kool Kats, The Temptations, and other national and regional acts. His true pride, however, is his wife of 35 years, Veronica Price-Thomas, and their three children: Price, 34, Lauren, 30, and Carmen, 25.