Originally from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Tom Mensch is the Artistic Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestra in Tyler, Texas and the adjunct Trombone Instructor assisting Dr. Deb Scott at Stephen F. Austin State University. Previously, he was the Director of Bands at Whitehouse Independent School District and also the Fine Arts and Communications Learning Leader for WHITEHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL and before that, the Director of Bands and Professor of Trombone at Tyler Junior College. Tom has conducted numerous low brass and band clinics throughout North East Texas and has been the clinician for several TMEA/ATSSB Region 3, 4 and 21 concert bands as well as the Four States Honor Concert Band. He is an artist for XO Brass Instruments, a member of the KHS American Instrument Brand and he has helped in the development of trombones within the XO trombone line of instruments. He is also an artist Greg Black Mouthpieces. Mr. Mensch is an active performer on tenor trombone with the Rose City Brass Quintet, Lead Trombone with the Souled Out Jazz Orchestra, The Metro Big Band, is the Principal Trombonist with the Longview Symphony, and is a freelance musician throughout the East Texas Area. He was a featured soloist with several high school bands and colleges and has performed as a soloist at the Texas Music Educator’s Association Conference. As a member of the Metro Big Band, he has performed in over twelve different countries and recorded 7 albums. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1996 and earned his Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2009. Tom is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, International Trombone Association, The National Band Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha. He is happily married to Heather, who is also a professional bass trombonist and the Department Chair of Music at Tyler Junior College, and they have a dog named Zoe.