About TK

Where I come from…

Originally from Las Vegas, Thomas relocated to Dallas after graduating college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2010. His primary instructor was Martha Gronemeier, the Assistant Concertmaster of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and adjunct professor at UNLV. In addition to pursuing a dual master’s in music education and violin performance at the University of Texas, Arlington. Thomas’s primary orchestral responsibilities are as Concertmaster and Personnel Manager for the New Texas Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas was awarded both music and academic scholarships to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While there, he studied violin with Elane Kaizer and Taras Krysa, and received chamber instruction from Andrew Smith and Matthew Johnson. In the UNLV Symphony he sat principal second violin and associate concertmaster, and was concertmaster for the Opera and Conductor’s Lab orchestras. He had the opportunity to play with soloists Sarah Chang, Oleg Krysa, Hilary Hahn, and directly under the baton of Itzhak Perlman for a life-changing performance of Beethoven 7. He toured the mountain west with the UNLV Quartet and Chamber Orchestra, during which he was a guest soloist and instructor at the Uintah School of Music and the Arts.

Previously, Thomas served as the founding director of the String Explorers orchestra at DAAYO (Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestras) and as a string clinician and private lesson teacher for Richardson ISD. Most recently he was the orchestra director at Rosemont Schools in Dallas ISD. He left in 2020 to pursue his master’s full time.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music education with a certificate in violin performance. He is currently taking lessons with Elizabeth Elsner, concertmaster of the Abilene Philharmonic and professor of violin at UTA. Thomas also participates in the UTA Symphony Orchestra and chamber music programs under the direction of Dr. Clif Evans.

Thomas has enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with some of DFW’s finest arts organizations. In addition to his responsibilities as concertmaster of NTSO, Thomas has played as a section violinist with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra since 2015. Previously, he has played with the Greater Texoma Orchestra, as well as the Turtle Creek Chorale and Uptown Players as well as several musical productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Bright Star, Young Frankenstein, Shrek! The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, and more. In April 2017, he played in the pit for the world premiere of  Larry Gatlin’s “Quanah” at Lyric Stage.

TK lives in Old East Dallas with his husband Sergi, who teaches elementary art in Dallas ISD and their cats Olive and Cebollina. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. cooking, keeping up with current events and politics, reading, live music, museums, and video games.