Tom is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.   For nine years, he was the Principal Tubist of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa (Xalapa Symphony Orchestra) and Instructor of Tuba at the Universidad Veracruzana (University of Veracruz) in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.  Since his return to the United States in 1989, he has performed as Principal Tubist of the Southwest Florida Symphony and the Suncoast Brass Quintet. He has also performed with many other orchestras and chamber groups in Florida as well as owning Cadence Music in Ft. Myers, Florida.  In his spare time, he built and enjoys flying a Van’s Aircraft RV-7A sport-aerobatic airplane and is a member of EAA.