Thaddeus Wilson

About the Artist

Thad launched his professional career in NYC, studying privately with NEA Jazz Master, Jimmy Owens, and becoming a member of Charlie Persip’s Super Band and The Illinois Jacquet Big Band.  He performed at the Village Gate, Blue Note, Visiones, Knitting Factory and many other New York City venues.     Upon moving to the DMV in 1997, he created The Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra. Highlights of his career include being commissioned by The National Gallery of Art to compose and perform an original suite, Reflections on Romare, at the televised opening of Bearden’s exhibit. In 2006, Thad was a finalist for the DC Mayor's Arts awards ‘Institutions’ category, highlighting the magnitude of his contributions to jazz in ther DMV. In 2007, he was named Program Director for the National Gallery of Art's “Jazz in the Garden” series and also joined the faculty of The George Washington University as Professor of Jazz Studies where he currently teaches.