Instructor of Trumpet, Interlochen Arts Camp
B.M., Trumpet Performance, Eastman School of Music
Thomas Drake is currently Acting Principal Trumpet of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. He joined Saint Louis in 1987 as Assistant Principal and became its Associate Principal in 2010, He is in demand as soloist, recitalist and clinician and has been featured as soloist on the orchestra's subscription series under such noted conductors as SLSO Conductor Laureate Leonard Slatkin, SLSO Music Director David Robertson, Nicolas McGegan and Jun Markl in works by Copland, Hummel, Vivaldi, Martin and Persichetti most of which were broadcast on NPR.
Mr. Drake has recorded extensively with the SLSO and may be heard on the BMG/RCA, Angel/EMI, New World, Naxos, Elektra, Nonesuch, Pentatone and Arch Media labels as well as the SLSO's selection of internet downloads.
He is a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Brass Quintet and an active participant in the Symphony's Community Partnership Program and coach for the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra's trumpet and brass section.
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.