Dr. Thomas G. Evans

Dr. Thomas G. Evans is the Director of Bands and Associate 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, he teaches courses in Music Theory, Music History, Music Education, and special topics such as Jazz History and Programmatic Music.

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 July 2003, Tom took his Kalamazoo College 7-piece jazz combo to Numazu, Japan for a weeklong concert tour. This tour was in celebration of the 40th anniversary between the sister cities of 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 orchestras and bands achieved the highest ratings at state festivals.

In 2002, Tom became conductor of the Kalamazoo Concert Band. The Kalamazoo Concert Band, comprised of over 100 adults from the southwestern Michigan area, is one of Michigan’s oldest adult metropolitan bands.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia, a Master of Music degree in Music Education and Trombone Performance from Boston University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan. His conducting teachers include: Gustav Meier, H. Robert Reynolds, Elizabeth Green and Larry Rachleff.

Currently, Tom is the principal trombonist with the Bach Festival Orchestra and substitute trombonist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. He is an active freelance trombonist, clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. Tom has also written for The Instrumentalist.

Tom’s wife, Julie, is the Assistant Principal Second Violinist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and teaches in the Music Theory program at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. Their twins, Matthew and Victoria, are entering the 10^th grade at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo.