Artist-educator Michele Thomas
Michele Thomas is a contemporary jazz vocalist, recording artist, educator and entrepreneur of over 20 years.
As an educator she founded and teaches both voice and artist development for her own private teaching studio, Soulstream Music Studio of Contemporary Voice, for over the past 18 years. She has also taught vocal jazz ensemble and applied jazz voice at DePaul University, Vandercook College of Music and has recently joined the Artist faculty at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Her music education stems from a rich Chicago gospel music legacy as well as studying at Sherwood Music Conservatory and receiving her BA in music at North Park University where in her freshman year she became the founding conductor of the college’s first ever gospel choir.
Teaching credits include teaching voice and choir at Clarendon Hills Music Academy, Merit School of Music, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church and the Maywood Fine Arts Association. In addition to multiple workshops on jazz and gospel music both overseas and throughout the U.S, she is a regularly featured clinician for Next Showcase Chicago, founded by previous Grammy Chapter president, Mark Hubbard. And in 2020 she was brought on as a music supervisor and vocal coach for the HBO Max critically acclaimed comedy series, ”Southside".
As a performing artist, she has just released her third album named, “The Assumption” that has received critical acclaim. She headlined at the Chicago Jazz Festival in recent years and has performed at many of the city’s legendary jazz clubs including The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill Andy’s Jazz Club and Winter’s Jazz Club. Her current show and touring schedule can be found at www.michelethomas.com