Born in Melbourne in 1971, David Thomas studied clarinet at the University of Melbourne with Phillip Miechel and the Vienna Conservatorium with Roger Salander. He has held the position of Principal Clarinet with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2000, and was previously Associate Principal Clarinet with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He teaches clarinet and chamber music at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National Academy of Music, where he has been Coordinator of Woodwind since 2008.
As a chamber musician David has collaborated with the Australian, Flinders and Goldner String Quartets, and pianists Michael Kieran Harvey and Elyane Laussade, and has regularly performed in the MSO Chamber Players series.
As soloist David has performed with orchestras around Australia and with conductors including Markus Stenz, Oleg Caetani, Brett Kelly and Graham Abbott.
David is increasingly active as a performer of contemporary solo repertoire for the clarinet. He has given premiere performances of concertos by Australian composers Ross Edwards (2007, dedicated to David), Nicholas Routley and Philip Czaplowski. David also premiered Richard Mills’ Diary of Transformations for clarinet and string quartet, has performed Brett Dean’s concerto Ariel’s Music, and is soloist on an upcoming ABC Classics release of Ross Edwards’ Clarinet Concerto with the MSO conducted by Arvo Volmer.