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 a B.M. degree in Music Education and 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 is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. Before coming to Martin, she was the choral director at Lucas Middle School in Durham. Ms. Thomas's choirs consistently receive Superior ratings at State Adjudications and Festivals, and were finalists in WRAL's Mix101.5 Christmas Choir competition. Ms. Thomas is a National Board Certified Teacher, and in 2022 had 22 students place in the NC MS Honors Chorus, the most of any middle school in the state, an honor held by her program since 2018. 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. She teaches voice and piano lessons privately with Amanda Bailey Studios. 

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. ​