About Laura Mulligan Thomas, Director

Laura Mulligan Thomas has directed the Charlottesville High School Orchestra since she graduated with honors from James Madison University in 1982. Together with middle school director Dan Lind, she recruited and taught more than 50 beginning string players in each of her first eight years in Charlottesville. During her tenure, the CHS Orchestra membership has increased tenfold and the program has earned a reputation for excellence.

Ms. Thomas received Charlottesville's Distinguished Teacher Award, was the district's representative to the Virginia Teacher of the Year program in 1989, and was recognized in 1995 by the Piedmont Council of the Arts for her work with young musicians. She has served as guest conductor for more than a dozen all-city, all-county, regional, and all-state orchestras and currently serves as string coach for the Youth Orchestra of Charlottesville/Albemarle. She recently completed her Master's Degree in conducting from Shenandoah Conservatory. An active cellist, Ms. Thomas has performed with the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra, several area chamber ensembles, and on three nationally-released CD recordings. Whenever possible, she and her three siblings perform together as the Mulligan String Quartet. Born and raised in Alexandria, she lives with her husband Paul and three-year-old daughter Emily on their family dairy farm in North Garden.

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