Now in his twelfth year with The Phoenix Symphony, Dr. Thomas Bookhout brings a vast experience in the choral art, having prepared and conducted symphony, opera, university, school, and adult choruses. He prepares the Symphony Chorus on its masterworks repertoire, such as Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, Kodaly’s Psalmus Hungaricus, Estévez’s Cantata Criolla, and Pärt’s In Principio, as well as exciting pops performances. The Phoenix Symphony Chorus enjoys a reputation for stunning performances, engaging rehearsals, and inspiring camaraderie.

Bookhout also has conducted The Phoenix Symphony Chorus in performances of its own in Phoenix and in Europe. His work conducting Poulenc’s Gloria in Vienna was hailed as “stimulating and … breathtaking.” In 2015, he led the Chorus in the world-premiere of Dan Forrest’s Psalm of Ascension for chorus and orchestra at Carnegie Hall. He currently teaches at Glendale Preparatory School in Arizona.

Previously, Bookhout was Chorus Master at the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, where he prepared the chorus for masterwork performances and fully staged operas, earning notable reviews in the American Record Guide and Opera News.

Bookhout has held positions at the University of Charleston and Ottawa University. He was Minister of Music at Camelback Bible Church, Music Director of the Taghkanic Chorale, Director of Music at the Stony Brook School, and has been a school principal and headmaster. Bookhout earned his graduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music and Arizona State University. Tom and his wife Jeanne’s family includes three adult children, two sons-in-law, and an ever-increasing number of perfect grandchildren.