Thea Kano, Artistic Director

A native of northern California, Thea Kano began studying the piano at the age of four. In 2004, she completed her doctorate in choral conducting under Donald Neuen at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her Master of Music degree in choral conducting from UCLA, and earned her undergraduate degree in Choral Music Education and Piano Performance from Arizona State University. Dr. Kano taught high school vocal music and musical theater in southern California for several years. Her ensembles received several prestigious awards, including Most Outstanding Performance at the Reno International Jazz Festival.

While attending graduate school, Dr. Kano studied conducting with Paul Salamunovich as part of her research on the Duruflé: Requiem. She was a teaching associate and administrative assistant for the Department of Choral Music at UCLA where she directed the University Chorus. Additional responsibilities included serving as the Assistant Conductor of the UCLA Chorale and the UCLA Chamber Singers. In addition, she served as the Assistant Director of the Angeles Chorale and was the Artistic Director of the San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus in Los Angeles.

Dr. Kano has prepared choruses for Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Solonen, Emil de Cou, David Hayes, Enrique Diemecke, Norman Mamey, Michael Kamen, Randall Craig Fleischer, Victor Vener, Paul Salamunovich, and Donald Neuen. She has sung and conducted at Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.

Dr. Kano moved to Washington, D.C. in 2004 upon her multiple appointments as Assistant Conductor of The Washington Chorus, Assistant Conductor of the Gay Men’s Chorus, Washington DC, and Artistic Director of the Capitol Hill Youth Chorus. In 2005, she founded the New York City Master Chorale as its Artistic Director and now resides in both Washington and New York City.

Read more about Dr. Kano in the Arizona State University Alumni Newsletter.