Laura Thomason

Biography

Dr. Laura Thomason, mezzo-soprano, is a performer, storyteller, music director, and vocal pedagogue. Originally from Lexington, South Carolina, Dr. Thomason brings a rich and varied background to studio work. She has taught students of all levels, goals, and styles from adolescent to professional since 2012, and is deeply committed to the application of evidence-based pedagogy to find the most free and efficient singing, regardless of style or genre. Dr. Thomason has taught at The University of Mobile, Anderson University, University of South Carolina Upstate, and the Lawson Academy at Converse University. She maintains a private studio, working with students across the US.

Dr. Thomason is devoted to the elevation of marginalized voices, both in her performance and in her research. In 2022, Dr. Thomason created the role of The Lover in the world premiere of I Can’t Breathe by Leslie Savoy Burrs and Brandon J. Gibson with Marble City Opera. The work highlights predominantly Black stories impacted by police violence; The Lover is the only intentionally cast White woman in the opera. The performance and contextual history of The Lover and I Can’t Breathe are the subject of Dr. Thomason’s dissertation; additionally, she has presented her research for both the Southeastern Regional NATS Scholar and Artist Series and the NATS Intern Program. In recital, Dr. Thomason regularly programs works by, for, and about marginalized persons; most recently, these have included James Adler’s AIDS Requiem and Jake Heggie’s The Deepest Desire. Dr. Thomason’s current research examines emotional intelligence and aspects of polyvagal theory as they can be applied within an ethical scope of practice in the voice studio.                    

A natural storyteller, Dr. Thomason has performed nationally and internationally in operatic and concert venues. She has performed with Marble City Opera, GLOW Lyric Theatre, Mosaic Arts, and the Bassi Brugnatelli Symposium. Productions include I Can’t Breathe (The Lover), The Gondoliers (Tessa), The Crucible (Betty Parris), and Dido and Aeneas (Sorceress).

In addition to her work as a performer and pedagogue, Dr. Thomason is a skilled pianist and music director. She has worked on more than a dozen shows, including coaching, accompanying, and conducting. Performances include The Falsettos, Death Takes a Holiday, Tuck Everlasting, Hairspray, and Hadestown (Teen Edition).

Dr. Thomason holds a DMA in Voice with a Pedagogy Cognate from The University of Mobile, as well as performance degrees from Indiana University (MM) and Converse University (BM).