Thomas Edgar (b. 2001 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American composer and pianist fluent in both classical and jazz styles. His constantly evolving musical output includes pieces for solo instruments, various chamber ensembles, different jazz configurations, and symphony orchestra. Edgar’s compositional voice strives to form a unified blend of classical music with strong influences of jazz and improvisational elements.

With his 2023 orchestral composition Inferno to Infinity, Edgar was awarded the Diamond Prize and a Special Award for Creative Innovation in the 2024 Season 2 Saint-Saëns International Music Competition. Recent performances of Thomas Edgar’s works include the premieres of his Sonata for Violin and Piano (April, 2024), String Quartet No. 1 (May, 2024), and vocal chamber work Worth Living (August, 2024). A 2024 graduate from Southern Illinois University, Edgar was the 2023 recipient of the Presser Foundation Award.

During his undergraduate education in the Southern Illinois University School of Music, Edgar studied composition with Dr. Christopher Walczak, piano with Dr. Yuko Kato, and jazz music with Dr. Isaac Lausell. He is incredibly grateful for all the support and guidance he has received from his music teachers, colleagues, and friends, and is constantly working to refine his craft. In addition to music, Thomas Edgar is also a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor, completing a degree in Aviation Flight from the Southern Illinois University School of Aviation.