Thomas Sleeper enjoys an active dual career as composer and conductor. His oeuvre to date includes five symphonies, thirteen operas, fourteen concerti, four orchestral song cycles, works for chorus with orchestra, three string quartets, numerous other vocal and instrumental chamber works and music for film. Sleeper's compositions are performed regularly throughout the US, and in Europe, Asia and South America.

Sleeper began his professional career at age 19 as a member of Fermata, an Austin based group of avant garde composer/performers who presented interdisciplinary concerts throughout the state of Texas. In this context, he developed close associations with composers such as Jerry Willingham, Jerry Hunt and Robert Xavier Rodriguez.

A strong advocate of new music, Sleeper has conducted the premieres of numerous works by composers such as Henry Brant, Carlos Surinach and Roberto Sierra. He has recorded works by these composers and others on the Albany, Centaur, Cane, Irida and Naxos labels.

Sleeper resides in Miami, Florida, where he is Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music and Music Director of the Florida Youth Orchestra. www.sleepermusic.com