Thomas Maternik-Piret is a highly educated and experienced musician specializing in cello performance and early music. He pursued his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Alabama from 2020 to 2023, where he majored in Cello Performance with a secondary concentration in Early Music, and graduated Suma Cum Laude. During the years 2022 to 2023, he was part of the Metropolitan Opera's R.Knopper Audition Hacker Inner circle. Additionally, from 2021 to 2022, he collaborated with K.Riordan on Building and Recruiting for Music Studio.

His earlier educational journey commenced at the Conservatoire National de Region in Avignon, France. He graduated from the Conservatoire of Dijon at the age of 17, and continued his studies at the Ecole Nationale de Music de Fresnes in Paris, France, from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, Thomas received a full scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London, UK.

In the realm of higher education teaching experience, Thomas served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Alabama from 2020 to 2023. He was an Adjunct Cello Professor at the University of North Alabama from 2017 to 2021.

He has been proactive in contributing to scholarly pursuits and community organizations. He is the Lead Researcher for a project aimed at developing a culturally sensitive curriculum for strings, focusing on integrating African American history and string instruments culture within school curricula. Thomas is also the founder of the Alabama Cello Society, which serves as a platform to connect and advance cello players in Alabama. One of its notable events is the upcoming Cellobration in October 2023.

His past projects include the creation of an Early Music orchestra at the University of Alabama (2020-2023), founding and teaching at Cello Chill and Singing River (2018-2023), and establishing the Maternik Foundation in the UK (2012-2017), which aimed to bring music and opera to children in hospices and hospitals. He also served as the Artistic Director for ARCH, Art Research Creativity and Health, an initiative that brought music to the elderly in care homes.

On the performance front, Thomas held principal positions in various orchestras such as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (2021-2022), Capstone String Quartet and Huxford Symphony Orchestra at the University of Alabama (2020-2023), Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (2017-2018), and Classical Concert Chamber Orchestra in California, USA (2015-2017). As a section player, he has been a substitute player for several esteemed orchestras including the Atlanta Opera, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra from 2020 to present, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and BBC Symphony Chorus in London, UK, from 2012 to 2014.

Thomas's excellence in music has also been recognized through awards. He won the 1st prize at the Ealing International Chamber Music Festival in 2008, 1st Prize in Virtuosity and Excellence at ENM Fresnes in 2005, and the 2nd prize at the Glazunov International Cello Competition in 2003.