Thomas Kline works in the School of Music as the Director of Music Admission and Preparatory Programs. Within the School of Music, he oversees undergraduate and graduate admissions, recruitment, financial aid, marketing, and the Preparatory Division, which includes the Summer Music Academy.
After graduating from Ithaca College in 2003, Thomas led a colorful life of performing about 150 gigs each year, teaching a private percussion studio of 30 students, running an artist management and booking agency, and working as a consultant for a non-profit music organization.
In 2007, Thomas returned to his alma mater to serve as Project Coordinator for the Enduring Masters program, where he administered a grant aimed at highlighting the important careers of prominent musicians over age 65. In this capacity, he organized concerts and events featuring Billy Taylor, Chico Hamilton, Dick Hyman, Bill Bolcom and Joan Morris, Joan Tower, Francois Rabbath, Karel Husa, George Tsontakis, Daniel Binelli, and Ithaca College’s own Steve Brown. In addition to these high-profile concerts, Thomas coordinated numerous outreach performances to senior residential facilities.
In 2008, Thomas began his current position within the School of Music as the Director of Music Admission Programs. Each year, he travels across the world to recruit top music students for Ithaca College. Each October, Thomas spends four weeks traveling throughout Asia, where he auditions over 400 young musicians in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and China.
In 2010, Thomas was promoted to Director of Music Admission and Preparatory Programs. Along with a new title came the task of administering the Summer Music Academy, a pre-college summer music program that serves over 200 young musicians from across the country.
When not working for Ithaca, Thomas continues to perform as a drummer and percussionist with a variety of groups including the Travis Rocco Band, Panigma Steel Band, and various jazz projects. He also enjoys working on home improvement projects, which have included bathroom and family room renovations, a lot of painting, and installing a new laundry room in the basement.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field in Business degree from Ithaca College and is working towards completing a Master's of Science in Communications, also from Ithaca College. He currently resides with his wife Gina, daughter Leah, and son Preston in Endicott, NY.
