Elmer Thomas honored

By Janelle Gelfand • jgelfand(a)enquirer.com • December 10,
2010

Elmer Thomas, 80, founder of the Vocal Arts Ensemble and
professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music, arrived in Cincinnati in 1966 and
became a powerful force in Cincinnati’s choral arts community.

As founding director of the Vocal Arts Ensemble (1978-88), he
launched a professional chorus that has appeared with the city’s
major performing arts groups. He also founded the choral studies
division at CCM, elevating the program to international stature
during his tenure (1966-95). He was also chorus master of the May
Festival Chorus, for the years 1970-73 and 1975.

The Vocal Arts Ensemble, now under the direction of Donald
Nally, will honor Thomas with its first annual “Elmer Thomas
Founder’s Concert,” Saturday at St. Boniface Church in Northside,
and Sunday at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, downtown.

Thomas spoke to The Enquirer about the early years of the Vocal
Arts Ensemble.

Question: What led you to establish the Vocal Arts Ensemble in
1978?

Answer: (Singers) Tom Sherwood and Jeannie Vail Geraci, who had
been students of mine at CCM, came to my house around 1977, sat in
my family room and proposed that we start a professional chorus in
Cincinnati. At first I was not very enthusiastic about it. But I
finally decided to do it. We started it on a shoestring. We had no
money, no research. What was astonishing is how many people were
interested in singing in a professional chorus.