Thomas Wright joined the FSU College of Music faculty in 1949 and has taught the “Introduction to Music History – Music Appreciation” courses every year. He also teaches Duo-Piano and Music Literature for Piano. As of 2007, over 58,000 students have enrolled in Professor Wright’s classes.
Professor Wright is a graduate of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Butler University, a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, and the equivalent of a Doctor of Music degree from Columbia University.
Professor Wright has enjoyed a long and varied career in music. His music has been featured on several television shows and in the prize-winning FSU film “Magazines to Transparencies.” He appeared as the featured artist on three of the four major radio networks in New York City and worked as the Musical Director and pianist for the “Song of the Stranger” radio series on Mutual Network. Professor Wright served as a staff pianist and guest soloist for the NBC-TV Network. He was the first person to conduct a live broadcast on all of the stations of the Florida ETV Network. He acted as host for several series on the Florida ETV Network and WFSU-FM. At a time when Professor Wright served as a faculty member for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Music, he also served as head of the Interdivisional Department of Radio-Television at FSU, which subsequently became the College of Communications, for twelve years. In addition, Professor Wright helped plan and administer the construction of WFSU-TV.
Professor Wright has performed concerts throughout the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean, including All Beethoven, All Chopin, and All Rachmaninov. He founded the Gershwin Festival Concerts at FSU and has presented over four hundred concerts of “An Evening With Gershwin” from coast to coast. He has also performed as a soloist with leading symphony orchestras. In addition, Professor Wright wrote several songs for schools including Butler University, Indiana University, Tallahassee Community College, and Lake City Junior College. His compositions for FSU include “The Fight Song,” “The Victory March,” “Flyin’ High” for the Circus, “Hollywood” for the Dance Department, and “Prelude” for the Symphony Orchestra.
Professor Wright is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Mu Alpha, the Music Teachers National Association, the Florida State Music Teachers Association, Who’s Who in the South, Who’s Who in America, and International Who’s Who of Music.
Multiple awards have been bestowed upon Professor Wright, including the Outstanding Educators of America Award from the President of FSU, the Oglesby Faculty of the Year Award, the Pan Hellenic Professor of the Year Award, and the School of Music Teaching Award. Professor Wright has also been honored by the FSU Alumni Association for Outstanding Service, by the FSU Student Government for Outstanding Service to Students, by the School of Music for contributions and service, and by the Governors of both Georgia and Florida. Based on his long and illustrious career in music and his invaluable contributions to FSU, the State of Florida Legislature honored Professor Wright by declaring April 14, 2003, “Professor Tommie Wright Day.”