Thoma was born in
Neu-Ulm. Her father was Lieutenant (later Major General) Albert Schenk. Thoma studied English and French abroad, then married the painter Emil Thoma and moved to
Riedering. There she met and worked with the Bavarian folk musician Paul Kiem in 1930 to record local folk music. She wrote a book and many articles about folk music. Thoma composed the
Deutsche Bauernmesse in 1933, and wrote the lyrics for the first Salzburg Advent Singing in 1946. Thoma received the
Bavarian Order of Merit in 1964, and the
Bayerischer Poetentaler award in 1974. Her composition
Die Kleine Messe (The Little Mass) was recorded on: • TELEF 6 22 149 AG == Books ==