Thomas Kraines, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The
Juilliard School, has gained renown as a versatile cellist, composer,
and teacher. He performs around the world as the cellist of the Daedalus
Quartet, and as a member of a duo with his wife, violinist Juliette
Kang, as well as various other ensembles.
Thomas’ solo cello and chamber compositions have been heard around the
country. He has performed his own works in collaboration with artists
such as Awadagin Pratt, Mimi Stillman, Maria Jette, Ilana Davidson. In
February of 2021, he performed his Suite for Two Different Cellos with
Kinan Abou-afach as part of an online performance at the Annenberg
Center in Philadelphia, and his Hansel and Gretel was recorded by
Kenneth Woods and the English Symphony Orchestra, with Henry Goodman
narrating.
As a member of the Daedalus Quartet, Thomas has recorded the music of
Joan Tower, Brian Buch, Anna Weesner, Vivian Fung, Fred Lerdahl, and
George Perle, among others. He can also be heard on the recordings of
music by Lori Laitman and Bernard Rands, both for Albany Records; John
Musto, with Music from Copland House; and Shulamit Ran, with the Peabody
Trio. His recent recording of Fred Lerdahl’s “There and Back Again” for
solo cello was released by Bridge Records in February 2020, as part of
its survey of Lerdahl’s music.
Thomas has served on the faculty of the Longy School of Music, Princeton
University, Peabody Conservatory, Phillips Academy Andover, and Yellow
Barn. He currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, where he
is director of chamber music, and the Settlement Music School in
Philadelphia.
Thomas studied cello with Frederic Raimi, Orlando Cole, and Joel
Krosnick, and composition with Tom Benjamin. He lives in Philadelphia
with his wife Juliette, daughters Rosalie and Clarissa, and two cats.
This is his first appearance with the Festival since 2008.
[2023]