Thomas Evans: Trombone / Conductor

Website Resources: Kalamazoo Concert Band Conductor – Dr. Thomas G. Evans

Dr. Thomas G. Evans is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Kalamazoo College where he conducts and oversees all aspects of the band program (Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Pep Band). In addition to conducting, he teaches courses in Music History, Music Education, Jazz, Trombone and Euphonium. He became the conductor of the Kalamazoo Concert Band in 2002, a widely-regarded community band of nearly 100 musicians. 

At Kalamazoo College Dr. Evans’ lecture topics include Jazz Explorations. He also conducts both the Jazz and Symphonic Bands. Tom joined the faculty of Kalamazoo College in 1995 having held a similar position for eight years at Alfred University in Alfred, New York. His jazz bands have toured internationally (Russia, Estonia, Finland, and Tunisia) as well as nationally (Chicago, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, and Detroit). In 2004 and 2013, Tom took a 7-piece jazz combo from Kalamazoo College to Numazu, Japan.  This week-long concert tour celebrated the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Kalamazoo and Numazu.  Prior to teaching in higher education, Tom taught for six years in the New York State public schools where his high school bands and orchestras achieved the highest ratings at state festivals.

Tom holds a Doctorate of Music Arts in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music degree in Music Education and Trombone Performance from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Tom has performed on the trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, and bass trumpet with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and the Bach Festival Orchestra. Recently Tom appeared as a trombone soloist with the Kalamazoo Concert Band.  In addition to performing as a freelance trombonist, Tom is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. Tom has also written for The Instrumentalist.

Tom is especially proud of his twin children Matthew and Victoria who are pursuing degrees in music performance. When Tom is not conducting, playing the trombone, or teaching in the classroom, he enjoys spending time with his domestic partner Katherine. Additionally he likes to read, cook, backpack, hike, camp, bike, garden, travel, and train his dog for search and rescue operations with the Southwest Michigan Emergency Response Team.

In February 2011, Tom was featured in the Encore Kalamazoo magazine.

Contact

Please contact Thomas Evans at Thomas.Evans@kzoo.edu.