Jennifer Thomas (pianist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jennifer Thomas
Background information
Origin	Seattle, Washington
Genres	Classical, crossover, new-age.
Instruments	Piano, violin
Labels	Tickled Ivory Music (Independent), Avex Entertainment (Japan)

Jennifer Thomas is an American musician. She is a talented pianist, violinist, and composer. She also performs and records her own music.

Jennifer started learning classical music when she was just 5 years old. She began writing her own songs in 2003. Her first album came out in 2007.

She has released eight albums. Her album Oceans came out in June 2024. It quickly reached number 3 on the Billboard Classical Crossover music charts. Her 2018 album, The Fire Within, also did very well. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Classical charts. It was also number 2 on the Classical Crossover music charts.

Many of Jennifer's songs have been used by famous athletes. Ice skaters at the 2022 Winter Olympics used her music. Gymnasts at the 2020 Summer Olympics also performed to her songs.

Her YouTube videos have been watched over 16 million times. More than 4 million people watched her live concert. In this concert, she played her version of "Carol of the Bells." This song is from her 2015 Christmas album, Winter Symphony. The concert took place in December 2015 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. She performed with the Ensign Symphony & Chorus.

Jennifer's Early Life and Music Training

Jennifer Thomas grew up near Seattle, Washington. She received her first toy piano when she was 3 years old. She started formal lessons for both piano and violin at age 5. Her mother, Carolyn Southworth, was her first teacher. Her brothers also learned instruments from their mother.

Jennifer and her older brother played in school orchestras. Their mother often helped the conductor. Jennifer continued her classical training through her teenage years. She performed in many recitals and piano contests. She also played with different youth and high school orchestras.

After high school, Jennifer went to Brigham Young University - Idaho. There, she studied piano with Professor Stephen Allen. She was part of the university's Piano Ensemble group. She also played for the college choir and other student musicians. She even played violin in the university symphony. Jennifer competed in a university contest. She won second place for playing the Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev).

After college, Jennifer moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. She often performed in the Temple Square Concert Series. She also played violin in the Murray Symphony orchestra. With the Murray Symphony, she was a special soloist. She played the Edward MacDowell Piano Concerto No. 2.

Later, she moved back to the Pacific Northwest. She played violin with the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. She also worked for the Seattle Symphony in their Education Department. It was during this time that she began writing her own music.

Jennifer's Music Career

Jennifer Thomas is famous for her piano-focused orchestral music. Her style ranges from classical music to crossover music. She also creates cinematic orchestral music, which sounds like movie soundtracks. Most of her songs are original. However, she also plays classical pieces, pop songs, and movie themes.

Jennifer has also composed music for films. In 2011, she won a Gold Medal of Excellence. This was at the Park City Film Music Festival for "Music in a Short Film." In 2012, she won a Hollywood Music in Media Award. This was for "Best Film Score for Documentary/Short."

Her third album, Illumination, won "Album of the Year" in 2013. It also won "Artist of the Year" at the IMC Awards. In 2015, Illumination won "Classical Song of the Year." This award was from the International Music and Entertainment Association. She also won the Enlightened Piano Radio Award for "Best piano album with instrumentation." She performed live at the awards ceremony in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Winter Symphony, her fourth album, came out in November 2015. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Brian Vibberts, helped mix this album. Other artists like Glen Gabriel, Ricky Kej, and Taylor Davis (violinist) also contributed. After the album's release, Jennifer performed concerts in Salt Lake City, Atascocita, Texas, and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. This album received many good reviews and won several awards in 2016.

In March 2017, Jennifer created an orchestral version of the Beauty and the Beast (Disney song). She worked with cellist Armen Ksajikian on this. It was released to go along with the Walt Disney Pictures movie Beauty and the Beast (2017 film). In July 2017, Jennifer worked with poet J.ournal. They created a song and video called Nine Twelve. This powerful song is a reminder of 9/11. In October 2017, she released a special 10-year re-mastered version of her 2007 album Key of Sea.

On October 12, 2018, Jennifer released The Fire Within. This album mixes classical and cinematic music styles. It appeared on the Billboard charts. She first played songs from this album live at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In late 2018, her song A Beautiful Storm was used by Rika Kihira from Japan. Rika won gold medals in ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating programs using this song. This led to a partnership with Avex Entertainment to promote her album Key of Sea in Japan.

In June 2019, Jennifer went on a successful summer concert tour. She performed in the western United States. In 2019, her music continued to be popular in ice skating. American Alysa Liu used Jennifer's song "Illumination" in her free skate program. Alysa won the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the United States with this performance. Alysa Liu won the title again in 2020 using the same song. In 2020, Cha Jun-hwan won the South Korean figure skating championships. He performed to Jennifer's song The Fire Within.

In March 2021, Jennifer's music was used in the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships. Rika Kihira, Cha Jun-hwan, and Alexandra Feigin all performed to her songs. In April, Rika Kihira used her music again for the ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, in July 2021, Jennifer's music was featured. Vladislava Urazova, a gold medallist gymnast from the Russian Olympic Committee, performed to Winter Symphony. Also, Lee Yun-seo from South Korea used Jennifer's version of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, Karen Chen from Team USA skated to a mix of songs. This mix included "Requiem for a Tower" and "Requiem for a Dream," which Jennifer helped create. Karen Chen won a silver medal.

In December 2023, Jennifer released her seventh album. It is called 'Classical Reimagined Vol 1'. This album features her own piano versions of classical songs.

After working on a special project for four years, she released a new album called 'Oceans' on June 7, 2024. This album won an award. Jennifer also appeared on the cover of Crossover Music Magazine Vol.35.

Jennifer's Personal Life

Jennifer Thomas is married to Will Thomas. Will is an ultra-marathon runner. In 2015, he ran a very long 106-mile race in France. Jennifer and Will have three children. They live in the Seattle, Washington area.

Jennifer has explored her family history through her mother's maiden name, Southworth. On March 28, 2023, she visited Samlesbury Hall in Lancashire, England. This hall was built by Gilbert de Southworth in the year 1270. Jennifer was given an honorary membership to the hall.

Jennifer's Albums

Jennifer Thomas has released several albums. Here are some of her main ones:

Jennifer has also been featured on other artists' albums:

Awards Jennifer Has Won

Jennifer Thomas has won many awards for her music. Here are some of them:

Jennifer's Music in Sports and Films

Jennifer's music has been used in many famous sports events and films:

• 2022 Figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics: Karen Chen from Team USA skated to a mix of 'Requiem for a Tower' and 'Requiem for a Dream'.
• 2021 2020 Summer Olympics Gymnastics: Two of her works were performed. Vladislava Urazova performed to Winter Symphony. Lee Yun-seo used Jennifer's arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
• 2021 ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating: Rika Kihira performed to 'The Fire Within'.
• 2021 2021 World Figure Skating Championships: 'The Fire Within' was used by Rika Kihira and Cha Jun-hwan. 'Moonlight' was used by Alexandra Feigin.
• 2020 South Korean Figure Skating Championships: Cha Jun-hwan won a gold medal performing to Jennifer's song The Fire Within (Jennifer Thomas album).
• 2020 US Figure Skating Championships: Alysa Liu won a gold medal skating to "New World Symphony" from the album Illumination.
• 2019 2019 ISU Jr Grand Prix Final: Alysa Liu won a gold medal skating to "New World Symphony" from the album Illumination.
• 2018 2018 NHK Trophy Grand Prix figure skating: Rika Kihira won a gold medal performing to A Beautiful Storm.
• 2017 Film Score: "Desert Rose"
• 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships: Hannah Miller used her music in her short program.
• 2014 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Zagreb: Karen Chen used her music.
• 2013 International Skating Union: Angela Wang used her music in a junior ladies short program.
• 2013 "Running the Edge": A film that used Jennifer's songs.
• 2011 "Minuet": A short film with a score composed by Jennifer Thomas.
• 2012 National Basketball Association: Her music was used in sports placements.
• 2012 NBC Universal: Her music was used in sports placements.
• 2014 MGM Equal Justice (TV series): Her music was used in this TV series.
• 2008 "Reasons": A film by Poor Boyz Productions that used her music.