Jennifer Thomas (pianist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer Thomas
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1977 (ages 47-48) |
| 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 who plays the piano and violin. She also writes and records her own music. She started learning classical music at age 5. Jennifer began writing her own songs in 2003. Her first album came out in 2007.
Jennifer has released eight albums. Her album Oceans, released in June 2024, 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 and number 2 on the Classical Crossover music charts.
Many of her songs have been used by famous athletes. International Skating Union Ice skaters at the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics gymnasts have performed to her music.
Jennifer Thomas's YouTube videos are very popular. They have been watched over 18 million times. A live concert video of her song "Carol of the Bells" has over 4 million views. This performance was in December 2015 in Seattle with the Ensign Symphony & Chorus.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Jennifer Thomas grew up near Seattle, Washington. She received her first toy piano when she was 3 years old. At age 5, she began formal lessons for both piano and violin. Her mother, Carolyn Southworth, taught her and her brothers. Jennifer and her older brother played in school orchestras. Their mother even helped as a conductor's assistant.
Jennifer continued her classical training through her teenage years. She performed in many recitals and piano competitions. She also played with youth and high school orchestras. After high school, she attended Brigham Young University–Idaho.
At college, Jennifer 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 students. She played violin in the university symphony. Jennifer even won second place in a college competition. She performed 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 featured soloist. She played the Edward MacDowell Piano Concerto No. 2. Later, she moved back to the Pacific Northwest. There, 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 started writing her own music.
Jennifer's Music Career
Jennifer Thomas is known for her piano and 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. She won a Gold Medal of Excellence in 2011. This was for "Music in a Short Film" at the Park City Film Music Festival. In 2012, she won a Hollywood Music in Media Award. This award 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 was at the International Music and Entertainment Association Award. It also won "Best piano album with instrumentation" at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Jennifer performed live at this awards ceremony.
Winter Symphony, her fourth album, came out in November 2015. It was mixed by Grammy Award winner Brian Vibberts. Other musicians like Glen Gabriel and Taylor Davis (violinist) also helped. After the album, Jennifer performed concerts in Salt Lake City and Seattle. The album received many good reviews. It won several awards in 2016.
In March 2017, Jennifer arranged an orchestral version of the Beauty and the Beast (Disney song). Cellist Armen Ksajikian played with her. This was released around the same time as the Beauty and the Beast (2017 film) movie. In July 2017, Jennifer worked with poet J.ournal. They created a song and video called Nine Twelve. This song was a powerful message about 9/11. In October 2017, she released a special 10-year remastered edition 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 performed it live in Seattle before its release. 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 events. This led to a partnership with Avex Entertainment. They helped promote her album Key of Sea in Japan.
In June 2019, Jennifer went on a successful summer concert tour. She performed across the western United States. Her music continued to be popular in ice skating. In 2019, American skater Alysa Liu performed to Jennifer's song "Illumination." Alysa won the ISU Junior Grand Prix in the United States. She won again in 2020 using the same song. Also 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 at the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships. Skaters like Rika Kihira, Cha Jun-hwan, and Alexandra Feigin performed to her songs. In April, Rika Kihira used her music for the ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Jennifer's music was featured. Russian Olympic Committee gold medallist gymnast Vladislava Urazova performed to Winter Symphony. Lee Yun-seo from South Korea used Jennifer's arrangement 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 music by Jennifer Thomas.
In December 2023, Jennifer released her seventh album. It was called 'Classical Reimagined Vol 1'. It featured her own piano versions of classical works. On June 7, 2024, she released her new album 'Oceans'. This album won awards. Jennifer also appeared on the cover of Crossover Music Magazine Vol.35.
Personal Life
Jennifer Thomas is married to Will Thomas. Will is an ultra-marathon runner. In 2015, he ran a 106-mile race in France. Jennifer and Will have three children. They live in the Seattle, Washington area.
Jennifer has explored her family history. Her maiden name is Southworth. On March 28, 2023, she visited Samlesbury Hall in England. This hall was built by one of her ancestors, Gilbert de Southworth. She was made an honorary member of the hall.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Oceans |
| 2023 | Classical Reimagined, Vol. 1 |
| 2018 | The Fire Within - featuring Tina Guo |
| 2017 | Key of Sea (10 Year Special Edition) |
| 2015 | Winter Symphony (Jennifer Thomas album) |
| 2012 | Illumination (2012) |
| 2009 | The Lullaby Album, Vols 1 & 2 |
| 2007 | Key of Sea (2007) |
Jennifer has also played on other albums:
| 2023 | "Nine Twelve" - from the album Poems and Music Vol 1 by J.ournel. |
| 2022 | Epic Women - The Shero's Journey |
| 2020 | Love is - from the album 'Between Worlds' by Felica Fererri. |
| 2020 | Father Can You Hear Me - from the album 'Fearless' by Alexa Ray and Randall Jermaine. |
| 2018 | Spring of Fire – 92 Keys – Life and Death |
| 2017 | Sounds Of Christmas (MPi 2017 Edition) |
| 2015 | Merry Christmas – Viktoria Tocca |
| 2015 | Dream It – Viktoria Tocca |
| 2015 | Love Language album (Grammy nomination 2015) – Wouter Kellerman 'Turning Page' piano Jennifer Thomas. |
| 2014 | These Miles – Jonathan Estabrooks |
| 2014 | Roads: The Many Miles Music Artists (2014) – Into the Forest |
| 2009 | The Best of Relaxation: A Lifescapes Music Collection - Playing Viola |
| 2007 | Best of the Swan Lake: 2007 Moving Image & Music Award – Fly Away, Release, The Tempest |
Awards and Recognitions
Jennifer Thomas has won many awards for her music. Here are some of them:
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cannes Independent Shorts | Best Music Video | Winner |
| 2024 | Hollywood Independent Music Awards | Underwater Carnival Ride from the album Oceans | Won |
| 2023 | Prague International Sound Video Awards | Etude for the Dreamer | Won |
| 2022 | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | The Adventurer - Epic/Orchestral | Nominated |
| 2020 | Classical Song of the Year International Music and Entertainment Awards | The Fire Within | Won |
| 2019 | Best Instrumental Music Video The Indie Gathering International Festival | The Fire Within | Won |
| 2019 | Best Music Video Silicon Beach Film Festival | The Fire Within | Won |
| 2018 | Best Spoken Word – Roundglass Music Awards | Nine Twelve (with J.ournal) | Won |
| 2017 | Best Message Song/Social Impact – Music Genre Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Nine Twelve (with J.ournal) | Won |
| 2017 | Best Music Video – Global Peace Song Awards | Alleluia | Won – Jury Vote |
| 2016 | Holiday Album of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2016 | Classical Song of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Assoc Awards | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2016 | Global Peace Song Awards – Opera/Classical | Eventide | Won – Public Vote |
| 2016 | Global Peace Song Awards – A Cappella/Choral | Alleluia | Won – Jury Vote |
| 2016 | Best Cinematography in a Music Video – Utah Music Awards | Carol of the Bells (cinematographer Tel Stewart) | Won |
| 2016 | Best in Holiday Genre – Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2016 | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2016 | Best LIVE Classical Performance (Live at Benaroya Hall) – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2016 | Music Video of the Year Award (Alleluia) – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2016 | Best Classical Music Video (Over $5,000) – Alleluia – Indie Music Channel Awards 2016 | Winter Symphony | Won |
| 2015 | Classical Song of the Year – International Music and Entertainment Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2015 | Best Orchestral Piano Album – Enlightened Piano Radio Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2013 | Album of the Year – Indie Music Channel Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2013 | Artist of the Year – Indie Music Channel Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2013 | Best Soundtrack Artist – Indie Music Channel Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2013 | Best Classical Artist – Indie Music Channel Awards | Illumination | Won |
| 2012 | Top Female Artist of the Year – Classical Crossover UK | Illumination | Won |
| 2012 | The Indie Award – Classical Crossover UK | Illumination | Won |
| 2012 | Best Original Score – Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Minuet | Won |
| 2012 | Piano Heaven UK | Illumination | Won |
| 2011 | Gold Medal of Excellence – Park City Film Music Festival | Minuet | Won |
| 2008 | Swan Lake Music and Motion Picture Awards – Audience Vote Award | Fly Away | Won |
| 2007 | Swan Lake Music and Motion Picture Awards – Digital Film | Release | Won |
Music in Sports and Films
Jennifer Thomas's music has been used in many sports events and films:
- 2022 Team USA Figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics - Karen Chen skated to a mix of 'Requiem for a Tower' and 'Requiem for a Dream'.
- 2021 2020 Summer Olympics Gymnastics - 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 gold using Jennifer's song The Fire Within (Jennifer Thomas album).
- 2020 US Figure Skating Championships - Alysa Liu won gold using "New World Symphony" from the album Illumination.
- 2019 2019 ISU Jr Grand Prix Final - Alysa Liu won gold using "New World Symphony" from the album Illumination.
- 2018 2018 NHK Trophy Grand Prix - Rika Kihira won gold using A Beautiful Storm.
- 2017 Film Score "Desert Rose".
- 2015 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Hannah Miller, Short program.
- 2014 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Zagreb - Karen Chen.
- 2013 International Skating Union - Angela Wang JGP Baltic Cup Junior Ladies Short program.
- 2013 "Running the Edge", a film directed by Matt Trappe, featured her songs.
- 2011 Film score "Minuet", directed by Ryan K. McNeal, with music by Jennifer Thomas.
- 2012 National Basketball Association Sports placements.
- 2012 NBC Universal Sports placements.
- 2014 MGM Equal Justice (TV series) placements.
- 2008 "Reasons", Poor Boyz Productions.
