Tom Salyers recently came to New Hampshire, at the close of his career as an active-duty USAF bandsman. Following his studies of classical trumpet performance at Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne Universities, he accepted a position with the Band of the USAF Reserve in Warner Robins, Georgia where he played 1st Trumpet with the concert band and was part of a career-field leading brass quintet. He later moved on to the USAF Band of the Pacific, Alaska where he played lead trumpet for the big band. His work as a lead trumpet player continued at his next assignment with the USAF Band of the Pacific, Japan in Fussa, Tokyo where he was also the bandleader for the brass quartet. After his time overseas, Tom returned to the States for his next assignment with USAF Band of the Golden West in Fairfield, California where he played principal trumpet for the concert band and was the bandleader for the Travis Brass Quintet. Tom’s final assignment was with the SHAPE International Band in Mons, Belgium- a multi-national, mixed service band. In Belgium Tom played lead trumpet for both the big band and the rock band, was the bandleader for the NATO Brass Ambassadors and did a substantial amount of composing and arranging.
During the last few years of his career, Tom also completed a B.A. in music production and engineering from the Berklee College of Music. In 2025, Tom earned a graduate degree in music composition from the University of New Hampshire.
Tom has been a featured soloist or chamber performer with the Band of the USAF Reserve, The Japan Air Self-Defense Force Central Band, The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band, The Whitworth University Wind Ensemble, The Cal State Chico Wind Ensemble, The San Francisco State University Wind Ensemble, and the Contra Costa Wind Symphony.
Tom has performed with a wide variety of groups and performers across genres to include: The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Anchorage Symphony, The Macon Symphony, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, The Georgia Brass Band, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, The Royal Army Band Colchester, The Ukrainian National Presidential Orchestra, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Lee Greenwood, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Aaron Neville, Take 6, LoneStar, John Santos, Matt Smith, Jason Marsalis, and Kristen Korb.
Tom has been teaching trumpet lessons for over twenty years. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers as professional musicians. Most recently, one of Tom’s students won the concerto competition at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo. Tom has also taught hundreds of brass masterclasses at high schools and major universities in the United States, Japan, and Belgium.
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