The Jacksonville Symphony has announced the appointment of Dr. Tony Thornton as director of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, Tom Zimmerman Endowed Chair, beginning with the 2026-27 season.
An internationally respected conductor, educator and author, Thornton brings decades of artistic leadership and choral excellence to Jacksonville. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with more than 400 choral ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia, and has led performances in some of the world’s most celebrated concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
Thornton currently serves as artistic director of the Sarteano Choral Workshop in Italy and artistic director of the Festival Singers program in Europe. His ensembles are widely recognized for their expressive artistry, tonal richness and technical precision.
“I’m honored to join the Jacksonville Symphony family as director of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus,” said Thornton. “I’m especially looking forward to building on the excellence of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and leading it into its next chapter. The opportunity to collaborate with Music Director Courtney Lewis, guest conductors and the musicians of the Jacksonville Symphony is incredibly exciting.”
Thornton’s extensive experience includes preparing choruses for performances with renowned conductors such as Jaap van Zweden, Robert Shaw, Simon Carrington and Andrew Megill. He prepared choruses for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the New York Philharmonic, and in a review of Bach’s Mass in B minor, The New York Times praised a chorus prepared by Thornton as “unquestionably the star” of the performances.
In addition to his conducting career, Thornton is a respected voice in the choral field as an author and educator. He is the author of “The Choral Singer’s Survival Guide” and the forthcoming “Choral Singing for Life.” His academic appointments have included leadership roles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Oklahoma State University, where he served as professor and director of choral and vocal studies and held the Doug and Nickie Burns Endowed Chair in Choral Music.
“Tony Thornton is a compelling musician and communicator whose experience and passion for choral music make him an exceptional fit,” said Lewis. “We are thrilled to welcome him and look forward to the energy he will bring to the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and our performances together.”
As director of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, Thornton will lead and prepare the symphony’s volunteer chorus in performances throughout the season, including major choral-orchestral works and special productions alongside the Jacksonville Symphony.
Auditions for the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus for the 2026-27 season will be held by appointment in July and August at locations ranging from Amelia Island to St. Augustine. Experienced choral singers interested in auditioning can learn more at JaxSymphony.org or contact Chorus Manager Ellen Clayton at eclayton@jaxsymphony.org.