About PACO

Thomas Alexander, Guest Conductor 

Thomas began his musical journey at the age of four, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. He started in the Suzuki Method with a butter box, ruler, and wooden dowel and made it "through all the books." He later pursued his passion for music at UC San Diego, earning a degree in Violin Performance and Musicology. After graduation, Thomas moved to San Francisco, where he immersed himself in the vibrant musical community, performing with both professional and community orchestras.

A dedicated educator since 2012, Thomas has focused on teaching adult students while also making an impact on the Bay Area music scene. He founded several orchestras under the San Francisco Civic Music Association umbrella, including Civic Strings, Mozart to Mendelssohn, and Civic Pops, and served as conductor at various times for each of these ensembles. Additionally, he founded and is music director for impromptuSF, a group priding itself on throwing music together at the last minute. His conducting experience also includes Viva La Musica and the Cambrian Symphony.  He closed a loop this past year conducting his first Nutcracker with the Cambrian Symphony and the San Jose Dance Theater.  

Thomas began coaching sectionals for PACO in 2022.  He is excited to continue to work with the amazing musician in the PACO family conducting SuperStrings, Debut, and Sinfonia this quarter.

Throughout his music journey, Thomas is driven by the belief that music has the ability to bring out the best in people, to bring us together as a human family, and to help us connect with the eternal. Song, Dance, and Instrumental music making are interconnected and help test the limitations of what we can do as physical beings and experience, if only for brief moments, that which is beyond.

Thomas also has another life in technology.  He received his Masters in Computer Science from University of San Francisco and is currently a Senior Director of AI at a SF-based Company.