Embedded Files
Leadership teams:
Leadership teams:
Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas
Director of Bands
Mr Thomas has led the bands at BHS since 2012.
Links
TMB; Seattle's First Call For Second Line
Backstreet Jellyroll; the music of Van Morrison
Professional Biography:
Professional Biography:
Chris Thomas has been the band director at Bainbridge High School since the 2012-13 school year. He loves it here.
During his time at BHS, every part of the Bainbridge Band Program has won multiple awards for excellence, including the Spartan Marching Band, wind bands, percussion ensemble, jazz bands, and chamber ensembles. He is especially proud that year in and year out, BHS has been among the most well represented schools at the official Washington state chamber music competition. He says this speaks volumes about the skill and ambition of his wonderful students.
Click on the arrow icon to the right to read more about Mr Thomas.
Before coming to BHS, Mr Thomas taught five years in positions ranging from 5th grade beginning band through teaching college classes and guest conducting adult community bands. Chris also was on the instructional staff for the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps from 2009-2012.
As a musician, Chris has played the trumpet since he was 11. Currently, he performs regularly with the Ten Man Brass Band, an active, Seattle based New Orleans style street band, and is a member of Backstreet Jellyroll, a professional Van Morrison cover band. After five seasons, he retired as Principal Trumpet of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra. Mr Thomas currently leads to Kitsap Jazz Orchestra, and plays with Bud's Brass Quintet (Bud recorded with the Stan Kenton Orchestra). In former years, Chris was a lead trumpet and soloist with both the Seattle Cascades and Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. He was also a member of the International Association for Jazz Education's 2004 All-National Community College Big Band. Chris played lead trumpet for the acclaimed Central Washington University Jazz Band I for two years during his undergraduate studies. Among many others, Mr. Thomas has had the privilege of performing with Ingred Jensen, Terrance Blanchard, The President's Own Brass Quintet, The Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, was a featured soloist with the Missoula City Band, and a member of the Missoula Symphony.
Mr. Thomas has served on the Bainbridge High School Bell Adjustment Committee and the BISD Time & Structure Task Force. He is currently the webmaster for the Olympic Music Educators Association (a sub group of the Washington Music Educators Association), and has served as the region's President (4 years) and Vice-President (2 years) in the past. He thinks that someday, the Bainbridge High School Band Program will be the finest (and most rewarding) band program in the state, and he's working hard to make that a reality.
In his down time, he enjoys frisbee golf, cycling, rock climbing, day dreaming, and listening to his wife (Dr. Lauren Drakopulos, PhD) practice her accordion. :)
Education
Education
The University of Montana (MM, 2010)
Central Washington University (BME, 2007)
Shoreline Community College (AAS, 2005)
Scholarship
Scholarship
2025 NAfME NW Conference | Jazz Is Bigger Than That
2023 NAfME NW Conference | Explode Your Jazz Band
2023 NAfME NW Conference | Preparing for a Conducting Symposium
2023 NAfME NW Conference | Positive Band Culture; Creating and Fostering a Successful Solo/Ensemble Culture
2019 NAfME NW Conference | More Than the Typical Big Band
Volunteer
Volunteer
Webmaster, Olympic Music Educators Association (2012 - present)
WMEA President (2024-present, 2016-2020)
WMEA Past Vice President (2014-2016)
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