Thomas Nee

Thomas Nee (1920–2008) was an American conductor and music educator, former Chair of Music Department at the University Of California, San Diego, and a conductor of The La Jolla Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to 1998. Nee graduated from The University Of Minnesota and, following service in the Merchant Marine during World War II, received his master's degree from the Hamline University. He spent the year as a Fulbright Scholar in Vienna studying conducting with Hans Swarowsky. Thomas also took lessons with Stefan Wolpe at the Black Mountain College in North Carolina, Hermann Scherchen in Zurich, and Robert Shaw at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. He spent most of the fifties and sixties in Minneapolis, working as a music director of the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis and Minnesota Opera. Thomas also was an assistant conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra under Antal Dorati. In 1967, Nee joined the faculty of UCSD and became an artistic director and conductor of La Jolla Symphony, remaining in that role for over 30 years. Together with Will Ogdon and Robert Erickson, who were also students of innovative composer Ernst Krenek, Thomas Nee developed a program in the spirit of their teacher's "learning by making music" approach. He chaired the UC San Diego Department of Music from 1971 to 1974 and conducted The SONOR Ensemble Of UCSD. During his tenure at UC San Diego, many prominent composers held residences at the University guiding and mentoring students, including John Cage, Toru Takemitsu, and Iannis Xenakis. Thomas Nee retired from the University in 1991.