Thomas Lea is a California native. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and his Masters of Music in viola performance from the University of California Los Angeles.
Mr. Lea has been a member and performed with such orchestras as the New World Symphony, daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra, Fort Smith Symphony, and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Mr. Lea has also performed and recorded with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Mann, Donna Summer, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Lana Del Rey, Kelis, Hi-Tek, Karen O, India Arie, N.A.S.A., Everlast, Kenny Loggins, Bear McCreary, Jessica Simpson, Sarah Brightman, Paul Oakenfold, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mos Def, Common, Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole, Arthur Verocai, Debi Nova, Rancid, De La Soul, Bilal, Dwele, Talib Kweli, Saul Williams, Terrence Howard, Laura Welsh, Leon Ware, Rhye, Quadron, Liam Gallagher of Oasis, and many more. Mr. Lea has recorded on scores for popular television shows such as Battle Star Galactica and The Walking Dead, just to name a few.
Mr. Lea works extensively as a Viola and Violin Teacher for the Harmony Project, working with both classical, hip hop, and popular music youth orchestras. Mr. Lea has also taught for String Project Los Angeles - an intensive program for young bowed string players which focuses on alternative musical styles including improvisation, rock, hip hop, jazz, and Latin. For over seven years, Mr. Lea has worked closely with the Yamaha Corporation of America going across the country as a clinician, demonstrating their line of electric bowed instruments.
Mr. Lea's busy professional career includes session work, arranging, production, and extensive work as a freelance violist. For the past three years, Mr. Lea has toured nationally, and overseas, with the highly acclaimed musical act Rhye; and is arranging, recording, and producing music with his production team Strings Massive.
