Thomas Drake is currently Associate Principal Trumpet of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 1987. In demand as soloist, recitalist and clinician, he has been featured as soloist on the orchestra's subscription series under such noted conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Nicolas McGegan, David Robertson and Jun Markl in works by Copland, Hummel, Vivaldi, Martin and Persichetti and broadcast on NPR. He is a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Brass Quintet. From 1991-2006, Mr. Drake performed as Principal Trumpet of the American Kanterei, a St. Louis-based ensemble specializing in the music of J.S. Bach. Mr. Drake is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he was Principal Trumpet of the Philharmonia.
He began his career at age 18 when he won the position of fourth trumpet in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He played in Rochester from 1979 as third trumpet until 1985 when he won the position of Principal Trumpet in the North Carolina Symphony. With the SLSO, he may be heard on the BMG/RCA, Angel/EMI, New World, Naxos, Elektra, Nonesuch, Pentatone and Arch Media record labels as well as the SLSO's selection of internet downloads.
