William Thomas served as Chair of Furman's Music Department for nearly two decades, and currently teaches studio voice, vocal pedagogy, directs the department's study away program, Music in Italy, and regularly conducts major works for choir and orchestra. A member of the Furman faculty since 1987, his career is marked by constant activity as a solo and ensemble singer, conductor and clinician, nearly forty years of college teaching and administration, and a number of significant church music positions. His work with the Furman Chamber Choir includes the highly anticipated annual presentation of a Festival of Lessons and Carols in Furman's Daniel Chapel. Dr. Thomas worked closely with the late Robert Shaw studying, performing and recording in the United States and abroad. His association with Mr. Shaw led to his being named Director of the 1998 Robert Shaw Choral Institute, held on the Furman campus, and to his work as assistant editor of Robert Blocker's A Robert Shaw Reader, Yale University Press, 2004. When he is away from campus he may be found working in his garden or trout fishing in the streams of western North Carolina, often with his grandson, Will.​​​

Education

• D.M., Florida State University
• M.M., Southeastern Baptist Seminary
• B.M., Mars Hill College

Training Under:

• Dorothy Roberts (voice), Robert Rich (conducting), Mars Hill College
• Robert Burton (conducting), Jack Coldiron (voice), Frank Stovall (voice), Southwestern Seminary
• Walter James (voice), Yvonne Cianella (voice), Florida State University
• Robert Shaw, Conductor, Atlanta, GA