Britta Thomas

Dr. Britta Thomas is a Los Angeles–based cellist and educator, praised for her creativity and expressive strength. She is known for her love of new music, frequently collaborating with contemporary composers, premiering works written for her, and pursuing projects that expand the cello repertoire and inspire audiences.

A passionate educator with over ten years of teaching experience, Dr. Thomas has a diverse background spanning approaches from Suzuki to improvisation. Her students have earned recognition in competitions and performed at Carnegie Hall. She has served as a cello and low strings coach for youth orchestras in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and has been invited to adjudicate competitions and lead masterclasses, sharing her expertise with students of all levels.

Dr. Thomas grew up in Montana and discovered the cello through the public school system. She earned her Bachelor of Music at the University of Montana and her Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her primary teachers, Professor Fern Glass Boyd and Professor Jennifer Kloetzel, have been major sources of inspiration. During her studies, she received numerous awards and fellowships, performed with the Graduate Fellowship Trio, and taught aural skills. Beyond music, she has a passion for language, holding a Bachelor of Arts in German, and is devoted to her pets—her dog, Tilda, and her cat, Moo Moo—her most enthusiastic audience members.