Tony Thornton
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A native of Alabama, Tony Thornton received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Voice from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. While a student at Westminster Choir College, he was a John Finley Williamson Scholar for four years. As a member of the Westminster Choir, he performed at the Spoleto Festivals in both Italy and the United States, and he has recorded with Leonard Bernstein, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, and Zubin Mehta.
Graduating with highest honors from Louisiana State University in 1992, Thornton conducted the LSU Mens Chorus and was assistant director of the A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, and University Chorus. He has studied conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt, Frauke Hassemann, Margaret Hillis, Kenneth Fulton, Constantina Tsolainou, and Donald Neuen. He sang for eight years as a member of the Grammy Award-winning Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and he has performed as a guest soloist throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. In addition, he has been a guest lecturer of music at UCLA, Pomona College, Los Angeles City College, and CSU-Pomona.
For seven years, Thornton served as the Artistic Director of West Coast Singers. He is currently the Founding Artistic Director of Los Angeles Choral Artists, which made its debut in 2003. He teaches voice in workshops as well as privately in Los Angeles, and he frequently is invited to conduct workshops with choruses throughout the country.