Elijah J. Thomas (he/him/his) is a Black Philadelphia-born, Harlem-based educator, multi-instrumentalist and composer. He has studied improvisation with Dick Oatts, Tim Warfield, Jr. and Walter Bell; composition with Dr. Cynthia Folio, Kevin Rodgers, and Dr. Maurice Wright; and music education research practice with Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Dr. Nathan Buonviri, and Dr. Allison Reynolds. Elijah has held numerous teaching positions in a number of educational settings with Settlement Music School, Temple University Music Prep, BASIS Independent Schools, and Education Through Music, Inc. Additionally, Elijah serves as Musical Director of the non-profit global street band performance organization HONK! NYC, whose mission is to “make events that reclaim, reuse, and redefine public space and connect communities through music-making, pageantry, audience participation, and education.”
