Ms. Thomas

Ms. Allison Wrenn Thomas, mezzo-soprano, is originally from NC, though much of her childhood was spent in the Eastern European countries of Kosovo and Albania. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received B.M. degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance, as well as a B.A. degree in Italian Language. While a student at UNC she studied voice with Ms. Andrea Moore, and choral conducting with Dr. Dan Huff and Dr. Susan Klebanow. 

While at UNC Ms. Thomas performed as a vocalist with UNC Opera Theater, Carolina Choir and the UNC Chamber Singers. She sang the role of Sesto, her first lead, in "La Clemenza di Tito", La Ciesca in "Gianni Schicchi" and "Buoso's Ghost", and the role of Martha in UNC Opera's production of "Dream Lovers". In opera scenes she sang various roles in Ned Rorem's "Fables", Orfeo in "Orfeo ed Euridice", Iolanthe in "Iolanthe", Hansel in "Hansel und Gretel", and both Meg Page and Alice Ford in "Falstaff". Ms. Thomas has been featured on masterclasses with Frederica von Stade, Donna Roll and Darryl Taylor.  Her upbringing in Albania has widened her interest in non-western music and languages, leading her to participate in masterclasses focused on Chinese and Russian repertoire, and to include a set of Albanian folk songs on her 2013 recital. 

Ms. Thomas has been the director at Martin GT Magnet Middle School for 6 years. She is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher, and an active member of NCMEA, NAfME and ACDA. Ms. Thomas's professional activities include conducting the NC Honors Chorus walk-through in 2018, 2022 and 2023, serving as a Wake County Choral Adjudicator for NC Governor's School in 2023, and serving as the guest conductor for the WCPSS All County Choir at Pieces of Gold in 2024. 

Ms. Thomas's choirs consistently receive Superior ratings at State Adjudications and Festivals, performed with the NC Symphony in 2023, and were finalists in WRAL's Mix101.5 Christmas Choir competition. Martin was honored to perform for Governor Cooper and other State Representatives as part of NCMEA's 2023 Music in Our School's Month performance at the State Capitol Rotunda. This year, Martin's Choral Program had 23 students place in the NC MS Honors Chorus, recognized as the middle school with the highest number or students seated in the state, an honor held by her program since 2018. In 2024, the program had a student place in the Southern Region ACDA Honors Choir for the first time, a milestone the program hopes to continue in the future. As part of a yearly collaboration with Directors Mr. Velarde and Ms. Frye, Ms. Thomas is the Music Director for the Martin Performing Arts Department's Musical Productions. 

Prior to her time at Martin, Ms. Thomas served as the choral director at Lucas Middle School in Durham. In addition to her work in the public school system, Ms. Thomas served as an administrator with the 2018 UNC Music Workshop, as the music director of Kidshine Performing Arts Camp in 2013, and taught with Student U in 2014. Ms. Thomas is an associate conductor with the Cary Apex Youth Choir. She teaches voice and piano lessons privately with Amanda Bailey Studios, and runs a Music Production camp "Studio Beats" over the summer. 

Ms. Thomas is excited to be in Raleigh directing the choral program at Martin GT Magnet Middle School. She looks forward to continuing a strong music program with her students at Martin in the coming years. ​