About
Thomas Ly is an active performer and music educator based in Austin, Texas.
He currently serves as a private low brass instructor at a number of schools in Austin ISD and Dripping Springs ISD where he has a private studio with over fifty students. His students have earned placements area and district band for Region 18, as well as receiving superior rankings in their respective Regional UIL Solo and Ensemble performances. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, Thomas had a studio of private trombone/euphonium students who not only earned placements in the Mississippi All-State Lion's Band, but as well as receiving competitive music scholarships from a variety of universities.
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As a performer, he recently earned a placement in the Substitute Musician pool for the New World Symphony for their 2024-2025 season. Thomas has also performed with a number of professional groups including the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Opera, Meridian Symphony Orchestra, and as a pit musician for the Natchez Opera Festival for the production of Puccini's La Boheme. He has performed as a section trombonist at the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, Berlin Opera Academy, and the Aspen Music Festival and School.
During his graduate studies at the University of Texas, Thomas served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Longhorn Band and Longhorn Pep Band, and also assisted with the Texas Concert Band, an ensemble comprised of non-music major students. During his undergraduate work at Southern Miss, he performed in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Lab 1, Trombone Choir and Select Trombone Octet. Thomas can be heard on the recording of the 2019 Collegiate Band Director National Association where he served as Principal Trombone for the USM Wind Ensemble, as well as the 2022 TMEA performance of the UT Wind Ensemble, which can be found on Spotify. His primary teachers includes Dr. Nathaniel Brickens and Dr. Ben McIlwain.
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Originally from Columbia, Mississippi, Thomas is the youngest of five children in his family. He grew up working in his family's restaurant where he also acquired a hobby for cooking new recipes at home. He is also a competitive powerlifter as he is currently an active member for the United States of America Powerlifting Association. As a former member of the Drug-Tested USPA federation, Thomas previously held Mississippi State records in the 100kg Junior Men's category for squat, bench, deadlift, and total.
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Thomas is an alumn of Southern Miss's Eta Phi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Fraternity.
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Education
2016 - 2021
University of Southern Mississippi
- Bachelor of Music Education
- Bachelor of Trombone Performance
2021-2023
University of Texas at Austin
- Master of Trombone Performance