91.9 Classical KC Local Feature.
Interview with Artistic Director Jackson C. Thomas and Composer in Residence Leslee Wood.
"The opening utterances...rose from nowhere with such an invigorating richness that it set an exciting tone for the rest of the concert. KC VITAs continued this unified sound throughout the entire concert, achieving a resonating sound regardless of dynamics or setting. The choir was well balanced throughout, and each section was easily heard in the overall mixture."
"For me, the most innovative thing about the program was that the choral pieces were sectioned off with art song. After every two or three choral performances, a single voice was featured on an art song. It functioned like little curtains opening between acts and served as a wonderful palate cleanser between courses.
I haven’t ever seen anyone use contemporary art song in this way, and I can tell you that I want to see it again. It’s very difficult for composers to get their art song into the view of the public, and this seems a perfect solution."
Originally from Carrollton, MO, Dr. Jackson Thomas is a conductor, composer, tenor, and clinician residing in Kansas City. MO. Jackson is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Missouri (a role he has held since 2021) where he previously served as the Assistant Director of Choral Activities/Opera Director. He has held elementary, middle, and high school teaching positions in the Park Hill School District, Kansas City Public Schools, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, and at the Pembroke Hill Upper School. Jackson serves as Director of Choral Music at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lenexa, KS where he has directed the Chancel Choir, Orchestra, and Bell Choir since 2015, and is the Artistic Director of the Northland Community Choir. He is an active soloist of classical and musical theatre repertoire, sings with several ensembles around the KC metropolitan area, and maintains a private voice and piano studio. He holds degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Vocal Performance and German and the University of Kansas where he received his M.M. and D.M.A in Choral Conducting. Jackson's research centers around composer-conductor collaboration, inclusivity, and the pedagogy of minimalist and extended vocal techniques. You can find his compositions on MusicSpoke.com or on his website, jacksoncthomas.com.