The German composer Kurt Thomas studied law and music at the University of Leipzig. From 1934-39, he worked as a professor at the Music Academy in Berlin, and from 1939-45 was Director of the Arts High School in Frankfurt am Main. During this time he was considered a Nazi supporter although his role during the dictatorship has never been fully elucidated. Thomas was best known for choral works.
In 1936 Thomas was awarded a silver medal in the Art Competitions at the Berlin Olympic Games for his work Kantate zur Olympiade 1936 (Cantata for the 1936 Olympics), which was submitted in the category Music, Compositions for Solo or Chorus. The cantata for four-part chorus and orchestra, Thomas’ opus 28, was based on the text by poet Karl Bröger (1886-1944). From 1947-55 he was named professor at the former Northwest German Music Academy in Detmold and worked as well from 1956-60 as the Thomas cantor in Leipzig, and from 1961-68 was director of choral concerts of the Bach Society in Köln and Frankfurt. From 1965 onwards Thomas also worked as a professor in Lübeck. His son Werner Thomas-Mifune was a cellist and composer as well.