Tribute to Women: Robin Hall Thomas
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photo by shane darby.
“God’s plan for my life has been beyond my dreams, goals, and expectations.”
Since she was a young child, Robin Hall Thomas has played the piano.
“I began taking lessons at the age of 7,” she said. “I was fortunate to learn and study under wonderful piano teachers. My mother played piano, and she was a huge influence in my life. She was a church pianist, and I followed in her footsteps.”
As a teen living in Shreveport, Louisiana, Robin played weekly at her home church. During her senior year of high school, she performed with the Shreveport Symphony. She went on to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in piano performance.
Throughout her adulthood, Robin has taught private lessons, been a member of the music faculty at Louisiana Tech, and worked as a musician for various churches throughout Louisiana. She served on the board of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Louisiana Baptist Convention (in the role of orchestra consultant). She also belonged to the Monroe Junior League, volunteering in various leadership positions, and is an alumna of Leadership Ouachita.
A lifelong learner, Robin has not stopped striving. “In my later years,” she said, “I began writing and arranging for [First Baptist Church West Monroe] and began to study music again, with [Dallas-based teachers] Stephen Nielson and Ovid Young.” This led to multiple major opportunities: to perform as a soloist for a Monroe Symphony concert, and to compose an original piece for the symphony. Robin has published four books of sacred arrangements, along with five recordings.
In 2012, Robin and her husband, Joe, relocated from Louisiana to Texarkana. Robin initially joined the staff of First Baptist Church as their music and worship associate, but within a year, she felt called to lead in a different way.
Robin and her husband, Joe, are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of eight “adorable and wonderful” grandchildren. submitted photo.
“I approached my boss, Quinn Stanfill, about 12 years ago, with a dream and vision to start a school for students of all ages to train and equip future worship leaders,” Robin said. “After much research and prayer, the FBC School of Worship Arts began in the fall of 2013 with 10 students, offering private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, and drums. Today, we have approximately 120 students with classes in piano, voice, children’s choir, guitar, bass guitar, and drums.”
Robin, the director of the school, puts the “minister” in “administer.” “One thing that God has called me to do as a worship leader is to encourage and train worship leaders,” she said. “This is more than I could have ever imagined before this all began. God’s plan for my life has been beyond my dreams, goals, and expectations.”
It is not just Robin’s professional life that has exceeded her wildest imaginings; her family, too, inspires immense gratitude. Robin and Joe have been married for 46 years. They have three children and eight “adorable and wonderful” grandchildren.
Robin is also grateful for her involvement with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. She is on the board of directors as the secretary and is chairperson for the artistic advisory board. She has also performed with and arranged for the TSO.
“The Texarkana Symphony is an organization that I enjoy and I’m thankful to be a part of,” she said. “Texarkana is very fortunate to have the quality of music it provides and presents every year. If you’ve never attended a TSO concert, you must do so.”
FSLM ASKED ROBIN:
What book are you currently reading? You’ll Get Through This by Max Lucado.
What’s your favorite local place to spend time? It’s a tie: Ironwood Grill and Chappo’s.
If you could speak one sentence of wisdom to your past self, what would it be? You are never too old to start something new, to create, to learn.
HOW MARY SCOTT SMITH SEES ROBIN:
“I am pleased to nominate Robin Thomas for the 2025 Tribute to Women issue because she is an outstanding musician and leader in the Texarkana music community, and she has such a beautiful, pure spirit. With Robin, there is no drama, no cattiness, no self-promotion, no hoopla; there is simply a talented person going about her business, supporting and encouraging other musicians, living the life God has for her, and accomplishing the things He has designed for her. She is a masterful pianist, composer, and arranger, and a frequent performer in her church and our area. Her music is inspirational and well crafted. After moving here in 2012, Robin started the School of Worship Arts at First Baptist Church Texarkana. More than a decade later, the school is flourishing and helping raise up the next generation of musicians. As a worship associate at First Baptist, she is playing every week—often her own arrangements or compositions. Robin serves on the Texarkana Symphony Board of Directors, is a graduate of Leadership Texarkana, and is a member of the Texarkana Music Teachers Association. She has helped me with my own playing, and I am proud to call her a colleague and a friend.”