David H. Thomas has been an orchestral clarinetist for 25 years. Additionally, he is also an experienced soloist, with numerous critically acclaimed performances.
Starting his performing career directly after undergraduate studies, he won a position with the Greensboro Symphony in 1982. The next year he was offered the principal position of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in Washington, DC. The grueling demands of opera and ballet repertoire honed his skills as a versatile player. In 1989, he won the principal clarinet position of the Columbus Symphony in Ohio.
A noted orchestra among several giants in Ohio, the Columbus Symphony had its Carnegie Hall debut in 2001. The review was glowing.
For the past 16 years David has impressed audiences with his music making, both as orchestral and solo performer. Columbus Dispatch chief critic Barbara Zuck offered these comments in a 1994 review of Thomas' rendition of Rossini's Introduction, Theme and Variations:
"Thomas, ...has steadily grown in stature and confidence. Even so, I'm not sure anyone was prepared for the absolutely bravura display of virtuosity Thomas delivered last night. Who would have expected him to emerge as the clarinet equivalent of Cecilia Bartoli? I don't recall a bigger or better reception for any artist, anywhere."
From an April 30, 2005 review of the CSO in a concert of opera overtures and tenor arias, Zuck noted: "(Thomas) had as many great lines as the singer, and his brilliant performances once again reminded us how his playing has spoiled us over the years."
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6/30/2005
Summer Season
I've had a few weeks off, or, more specifically, unemployed. Since our season is 46 weeks long, we have 6 weeks unemployed. I'm not complaining, though. I prefer this to the insidious stress of a 52 week season.
Now we are starting the Picnic with the Pops season, 7 weeks of outdoors pops concerts. The program usually consists of a first half featuring the orchestra, followed by a reasonably good pop act on the second half, accompanied by us, of course.
The crowd comes mostly for the pop act. But they tolerate us. So, to keep their attention, our first half is usually programmed with "lighter" fare. But what sounds lighter from the audience is often gruelling for us.
The conditions are far from ideal for playing. It's humid and hot. The shell we play in is a plastic dome, with little or no acoustical enhancement. We are amplified, which further diminishes proper feedback.
Then there's the music we play. It tends to be overly difficult technically and under gratifying to play. Lack of money prevents us from renting a plethora of good arrangements. So we play either poor arrangements of movie and show music, or we play the same ones every year because we own them.
I try to maintain high standards, but I also become more of a drone, playing what's on the page. I don't over-extend my discernment. I numb down a bit to survive.
I'm off to a rehearsal!
David H. Thomas
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