MATT THOMAS

Performer

MATT THOMAS remembers seeing ITNY perform at Rockefeller Center as a young boy and feels privileged to have become a member of the educational outreach and performance groups of ITNY, passing on that dream over the last decade. Introduced to skating through the Learn to Skate Program in Syracuse, NY, he went on to train as a figure skating competitor, earning the title of Eastern Sectional Champion in 1998. Today, Matt remains deeply active on the ice as a competitive short track speed skater, a skating coach, and a proud member of the ITNY community — a testament to a lifelong love of skating that began close to four decades ago. Off the ice, Matt is an accomplished saxophonist holding a Bachelor’s in Music from SUNY Buffalo. A versatile performer, he regularly plays with multiple New York City bands spanning salsa, jazz, boogaloo, and beyond, and has graced the stage at Lincoln Center, music festivals across the country, and venues internationally — bringing the same joy and dedication to his music that he brings to everything he does on the ice.