Sequim composer’s epic music remains staple at Olympics

Published 1:30 am Monday, February 23, 2026

SEQUIM — A Peninsula musician has once again helped Olympic athletes on one of the world’s biggest stages — or, in this instance, an ice rink.

Jennifer Thomas, a composer, musician and filmmaker based in Sequim, heard her tune “Rise of the Phoenix” performed during a routine on Feb. 6 at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Team Japan’s Masaya Morita and Utana Yoshida used her instrumental for their Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance routine as part of the team figure skating competition.

The United States won gold for top overall score in four events, including the top performance in Ice Dance (Evan Bates, Madison Chock).

Morita and Yoshida placed eighth in their event on Feb. 6 and didn’t advance to the Feb. 7 finals, but their score helped Japan win a silver medal.

“Their whole routine was stunning,” Thomas said. “I’m honored (they used it).”

Thomas had been following the skating pair all season leading up to the Olympics and a fan alerted her about when they’d compete.

The tune comes from Thomas’ 2018 album “The Fire Within,” and she said its use feels like a “full-circle” moment.

In an online post, Thomas wrote that, while she was writing the album, she had composed it with figure skating in mind, including the tune’s compositional structure and pacing.

“I had hoped that one day someone would use it in their routine,” she wrote.

At that time, Thomas said her music was rising in popularity across the globe and in Japan, particularly due to skater Rika Kihria skating to Thomas’ “A Beautiful Storm” from the album “Key of Sea.”

Other skaters and gymnasts have used her music with Milano Cortina being her music’s third appearance in the Olympics. U.S. competitor Karen Chen skated to her music at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and two gymnasts performed their floor routines to her music at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thomas said she loves that the Olympics bring the world together and that it’s “all about unity, harmony and supporting one another.”

She doesn’t have a preference who uses her music though.

“I’m always so happy to see my music being used in this artistic display of brilliance,” Thomas said.

“I’m so honored to be a small part of an event that brings so many people together.”

Music at the Olympics has come under the spotlight for a few skaters, including gold medal-winning U.S. skater Amber Glenn and Spanish skater Thomas Llorenc Guarino, who had to work out copyright issues for their free skate programs.

Thomas said she worked with the company ClicknClear last year to help pre-clear music for athletes.

“It makes it easier for me and them,” she said.

Thomas said this is the first time she’s received onscreen credit during a performance.

“This year I was really excited to see my name on the screen,” she said. “Now people will actually know my name and the song that goes with the routine.”

Thomas plans to post an educational video on her YouTube channel, youtube.com/@jenniferthomas, about how music streaming revenue works for performing artists. To her knowledge, the Japanese pair is the only team to use one of her tunes this Olympics.

Thomas even got to connect with the Japanese skaters via Instagram, and one of them told her they hope to meet her someday.

For “Rise of the Phoenix,” Thomas gives a shoutout to collaborator, co-producer and orchestrator Glen Gabriel.

A look ahead

Thomas’ album “Game of Shadows,” inspired by spy and crime thrillers, is set to be released in June. She’s continuing to work on new videos for her music, too.

This summer, she’s planning to do a summer outdoor concert at Nelson’s Duckpond and Lavender Farm in Sequim, where she has filmed for a video (“Etude for the Dreamer”).

Thomas’ music is on streaming platforms and available for purchase at Amazon, iTunes and jenniferthomasmusic.com.

Find her vlogs at youtube.com/@jenniferthomas.

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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached by email at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.