Award-winning saxophonist, composer, and arranger Michael Thomas has been an active member of the New York City jazz community since arriving in 2011. Studying music from an early age, his focus shifted to jazz in high school, and during his senior year, he was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music as a Studio Music and Jazz Major. While at UM, Mr. Thomas had the opportunity to study with Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Whit Sidener, and Ron Miller, as well as numerous guest artists. Michael played lead alto in the DownBeat Award-winning Concert Jazz Band and Studio Jazz Band, as well as being a member of the Frost Jazz Sextet. He is co-principal clarinetist in the Wind Ensemble, conducted by Gary Green and was featured as the clarinet soloist on the Wind Ensemble’s 2010 Albany Records release Wolf Rounds, performing the solo part on Michael Daugherty’s “Ladder to the Moon”. Mr. Thomas is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory.