Dr. Reed Thomas is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music and Conducting in the School of Music at Middle Tennessee State University, a position he has held since 2003. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble and University Chamber Winds, teaching undergraduate courses in conducting and instrumental methods, graduate courses in conducting and wind and orchestral repertoire, and he guides all aspects of MTSU band program. He is the founding conductor of the Three Rivers Wind Symphony, a professional group of wind and percussion players from Northeast Indiana and was the Conductor of the Littleton Chamber Winds in Littleton, Colorado from 1997-99. He has been a guest conductor throughout the United States, South Korea, China, Brazil, Panama, Columbia, Costa Rica, Portugal, Russia, United Kingdom and several European countries.

Dr. Thomas is an active conductor and clinician who has received praise and critical acclaim for his artistic interpretations, thorough preparation, and innovative programming from composers such as David Maslanka, Nigel Clarke, Pete Madsen, James David, Kit Turnbull, Jonathan Newman, DJ Sparr, Shafer Mahoney, Peter Fischer, Jamie Simmons, and Robert Bradshaw, and from solo performers such as Jens Lindeman, Brett Baker, Harmen Vanhoorne, Peter Skaevard Sheppard, Steve Houghton, Eddie Daniels, Jennifer Gunn, David Cooke, Jonathan Gunn, and She-e Wu for his interpretive conducting. His groups have been invited to perform at venues throughout the United States, China, South Korea, Panama and Costa Rica. Dr. Thomas is an avid supporter of new music, commissioning over 60 compositions since 2003 and presenting world premier performances to well over 45 compositions. He has been a strong supporter to music from Brazil, Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and China.

Dr. Thomas has seven Internationally released Compact Disc’s featuring the MTSU Wind Ensemble including two on the Naxos Label; the critically acclaimed “Angel’s in the Architecture” and “Earthrise;” and four on the Toccata Classics Label; “Nigel Clarke - Music for Symphonic Wind Orchestra,” featuring his epic work, “A Richer Dust,” commissioned by the MTSU Wind Ensemble,” “Music for Trombone and Winds,” featuring newly composed works for solo trombone and wind ensemble, Bret Baker soloist, “Chosen Gems of David Maslanka,” and the most recently released “Firedance – Music of Peter Fischer.”

A native of Colorado, Dr. Thomas received his Ph.D. in Music with an emphasis in conducting from the University of Minnesota and both his Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Music Education from the University of Utah. Prior to his appointment at MTSU, he conducted at universities in Indiana and Colorado and was a public school Music Director at two high schools in Utah. He has written articles for the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band Series” and is the Artistic Director of the annual Corazon Verde Music Festival in Paraiso, Cartago, Costa Rica. Dr. Thomas is an active member of several associations including the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha and is an honorary member of the Costa Rican Band Directors Association, the Korean Band Association, the China Bandmasters Association, and the Asian Pacific Band Directors Association.