Tom has been teaching music for 25 years. He graduated from Montclair State College in NJ with a Masters in Music Education and a Masters in Educational Administration. He studied trumpet with Gerard Schwarz of the NY Philharmonic. He has spent the majority of his career teaching band, but has also taught orchestra. He has performed with Latin bands, Big bands, German and Polish bands, as well as Dixieland and small jazz ensembles. He has played in the orchestra for over 50 different musical productions. In 2005, he conducted the orchestra for the Stormy Weather Players production of "Sound of Music". He is the founder and director of the Professional Musicians of Orange County Marching Band and the Gentleman of Jazz.