Albert, Thomas

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Thomas Albert has been an active composer for over five decades. His one-act opera, “Lizbeth,” was supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Two of his works, “A Maze (With Grace)” and “Devil’s Rain”, are included on the Philadelphia ensemble Relâche’s album, On Edge. 
 
His best-known work, “Thirteen Ways”, was commissioned by the Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird, and is availble on their debut album, “Thirteen Ways”. He has composed incidental music for many plays, including the Short North Stage (Columbus OH) production of Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2. 
 
He is Professor Emeritus at Shenandoah Conservatory (of Shenandoah University) in Winchester VA, where he taught composition and musical theatre for 42 years. He retired as Producing Artistic Director of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in 2019.
 
Born in Lebanon PA, he holds degrees from Barton College and the University of Illinois. His principal composition teachers were William Duckworth, Paul Martin Zonn and Ben Johnston.