Dr. Thomas Root
Retiring in 2015 after 31 years as a Professor of Music at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, Thomas Root (b. 22 February 1947) is a native of Minnesota.
After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Minnesota, he received a Doctorate in Music Composition from Michigan State University. The winner of nine Utah Composers’ Guild Awards, he was voted President-elect of the College Band Directors National Association, Western Division. Dr. Root served as Director of Bands and Chairman of the music theory department at Weber State University until his retirement. Under his direction, the WSU Wind Ensemble has performed as a guest of the City of Chia Yi, Taiwan, in their 1998 International Wind Orchestra Festival, in 2000 served as the guest performance ensemble for the Chosen Gems clinics of the 2000 Regional CBDNA convention, at Carnegie Hall in spring of 2009 and at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois in March of 2010.
Active nationally as a guest conductor and adjudicator, Thomas Root is also well-known as a composer. The winner of eleven Utah Composers’ Guild Awards, he has written numerous commissioned pieces, including works for the University of Nevada-Reno Wind Ensemble premiered at the Western Division College Band Directors National Association meetings, two chamber works funded by Utah State Arts Council grants, and chamber works for other professional associations including the Utah chapter of Music Teachers National Association. Dr. Root has also completed commissions for bands and orchestras in Minnesota, Texas, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado. In addition, he has composed major works for choral ensemble, including his highly acclaimed African Carols for choir and band.
Root’s 1999 publication for band, Chorale Prelude on ‘Sleepers Awake,’ placed first nationally and was “Best of Utah” in that year’s Utah Composers Guild competition. Another familiar band publication by Thomas Root, Polly Oliver, was recently selected as one of the ten most important works for young band by the American Band College and is featured continuously in clinics, reading bands, graduate music education seminars and conducting classrooms throughout the world.
