KCB Youth Soloists -  Where are they now?

2000 – Thomas E. Boulton, Trumpet, Big Rapids High School

2000 KCB Spring Concert Program Notes

Thomas E. Boulton, a senior and National Honor Society member at Big Rapids High School in Big Rapids, Michigan, has served as principal trumpet in the Big Rapids High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble for his entire academic career.  He is a four-year member of the Big Rapids High School Marching Band where he was section leader for three of those years.  He is currently principal trumpet in the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, an ensemble he has played with for three years, and a member of Big Rapids High School Brass Quintet and Jazz Ensemble.  He has performed in a variety of orchestral settings, including several theater productions.  Tom has earned 18 First Division ratings at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festivals, was named as a Soloist Nominee to the Michigan Youth Arts Solo Competition his sophomore year and was selected to participate in the Youth Arts Festival Band his sophomore and junior years.  His future plans include attending Eastern Michigan University, majoring in music performance and psychology.

Where Is He Now

Thomas has earned a Bachelor of Music degree (Cum Laude) from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Music degree in Classical Trumpet from the Manhattan School of Music.  His principal former teachers include Carter Eggers (Professor of Trumpet, Eastern Michigan University), Michael Bowman (Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra), and Thomas V. Smith (New York Philharmonic).

Currently, Thomas is a Doctorate of Musical Arts Candidate at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey), where he was awarded a teaching assistantship in the Rutgers Brass Department.  He is currently working with Kevin Cobb of the Julliard School and American Brass Quintet.

In large ensemble settings, Thomas has performed with the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Composer’s Orchestra.  In April 2005, he joined the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra and worked with world-renowned conductor Maestro Kurt Masur, Conductor and Music Director Emeritus of the New York Philharmonic.  While at Eastern Michigan University, Thomas was principal trumpet for both the Eastern Michigan University Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the EMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo.  Thomas is an active freelance musician and teacher in his hometown, as well as the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, Detroit and New York City Metro areas.

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