Thomas Wilson

Thomas Wilson is currently Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Associate Conductor of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, serves on the music faculties at Colorado College and the Colorado Springs Conservatory, and maintains an active schedule of guest conducting, composing and arranging.

Thomas began studying piano at the age of four.  Later instrumental studies included trumpet, percussion, string bass and voice, before concentrating his efforts on trumpet, conducting and composition.  Thomas graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado, receiving the School of Music’s highest honor—the Departmental Scholar Award—and pursued additional studies with many of the leading conductors of our time.  He is continuing his formal education at Colorado State University.

A primary focus of Mr. Wilson’s conducting career has been collaboration and crossover between performing arts organizations, which he views as essential to strengthening arts organizations and music education.  He has been a tireless advocate for composers, conducting and recording numerous world premieres.  Thomas’ recent recording projects include the premiere recording of Kevin McChesney’s Ring of Fire, a live 2-CD release of the Flying W Wranglers with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and a CD/DVD concert video and documentary on the Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, Kentucky with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, focusing on the segregated hotel’s rich history through the music of its most prominent guests.

Winner of international recognition as a trumpeter, Mr. Wilson has extensive experience performing, touring, and recording with orchestras, ensembles, and artists.  He is one of only three trumpeters ever selected as a finalist for both the International Trumpet Guild Orchestral and Solo Performance Competitions in the same year.  His compositions and arrangements have been performed in the United States, Europe and Japan.

Mr. Wilson has been called “someone to watch” and “a very exciting conductor” by Michael Tilson Thomas, one of the foremost conductors of our time.