Thomas Jaber
Vocal Coach

Thomas Jaber has conducted the Choral Ensembles of the Shepherd School of Music since 1988. There, he coaches singers, teaches graduate level choral conducting, and is often heard as piano accompanist in many concerts annually at the school and elsewhere. Also, Mr. Jaber has prepared and conducted many operatic productions at the Shepherd School. This past summer season he debuted as conductor and music director for a production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro for the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Vietri Sul Mare, Italy.

Mr. Jaber has degrees in piano from Arkansas State University and Indiana University and holds a Performers Certificate from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music. He was a principal vocal coach at the Curtis Institute for twelve seasons, and also coached and conducted many productions at Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts. He also was the music director of the opera department of Temple University, and was Brown Visiting Professor at Baylor University.

Long recognized for his musical versatility - he is also an accomplished organist and harpsichordist - Mr. Jaber has collaborated in hundreds of concerts with many outstanding singers and instrumentalists. His choirs have performed in important venues in the US and abroad. Most recently, the Shepherd Singers of Rice University appeared in subscription concerts with Houston's Mercury Baroque Ensemble. Later this spring, the Rice Chorale will perform Mozart's Davide Penitente with Houston Symphony Orchestra's maestro, Hans Graf. He also had the great fortune to work closely for several seasons as piano accompanist for the great master entertainer Fred Waring.

Mr. Jaber was the Organist-Choirmaster of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and was heard regularly in recital on the Alexander McCurdy Organ. He is the Director of Music at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, where he oversees one of the country's largest parish music programs.

Vocal Program
Vocal Program, Faculty