Tom hails originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Performance Major in Organ with a Minor in Voice) from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and a Masters from Northwestern University School of Music in Organ. One of his most influential organ instructors was Karel Paukert who enlightened him to the joys of improvisation.
He has been playing in churches since he was fifteen. His most prominent position in Milwaukee was as the Assistant Organist at the Capitol Drive Lutheran Church. The church had close to 2000 members and twice a year presented organ recitals on its renown organ from such artists as Marie Claire Alain, Marvel Basile, Pierre Cochereau, E.Power Biggs, and Virgil Fox. In addition, the staff presented recitals several times a year.
After moving to Chicago in 1972, he became a member of Church of the Ascension. Besides being an acolyte there, he also served for many years as the organist for their Evensong & Benediction services which, at that time, were held every Sunday evening. He was the O/C at St. Clement's Church in Harvey for 6-years and then became the O/C at St. Paul's Church in Riverside. He left St. Paul's to assume the Music Director position at a Lutheran church in Northbrook.
From the late '80s to 2001, Tom was in management at Northwestern University in Evanston. During this period, he left any permanent church position and performed organ supply for the then Music Office of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. For nearly 10-years, he had the privilege of supplying at a large number of the diocesan churches, as well as many Roman Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese.
In 1990, he transferred his membership to Church of the Atonement, and since 1992 has been the Assistant Organist for the parish with principle responsibility for the 9am Family Mass at Atonement. For 3-years he also was the O/C at Church of the Epiphany on Ashland.
After a call from Fr. Porter who had just been appointed the Rector of St. Thomas Church and knew of Tom from his providing supply at St. Edmunds, Tom assumed the O/C responsibilties at St. Thomas.
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