A native of Norwich, New York, Tom Pylinski maintains an active career as a freelance trombonist and music teacher in Northeast Ohio. He is a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the orchestras of Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Buffalo, Syracuse, South Bend, Wheeling, Erie, and many others. Tom was guest principal trombone of the Miami City Ballet during the 2019-2020 season. In addition to his orchestral posts, he is a member of the Starkweather Brass Quintet and the brass quintet at the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist. He has performed in Canada and Europe and given masterclasses at high schools and colleges across the United States. He is an Edwards Artist, playing a custom T396-A trombone.
Tom earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with the late Steve Witser of the Cleveland Orchestra. He then earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Akron, studying with Ed Zadrozny. Additional studies with Rick Stout, Hal Reynolds and John Marcellus.
Tom has spent summers performing with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, serving as principal trombone since 2009. In 2022 he appeared with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta. He has also performed at Tanglewood, the Chautauqua Institution, and in Colorado as a fellow of the National Repertory Orchestra. He has shared the stage with such notable artists as Kansas, the Beach Boys, the O’Jays, the Temptations, Kenny Rogers, Michael Bolton, Christopher Cross, Martina McBride, Amy Grant, Todd Rundgren, Bela Fleck, Randy Newman, Andrea Bocelli, Idina Menzel, Josh Groban and Yo-Yo Ma.
Tom teaches low brass lessons, brass methods and brass chamber music at the University of Mount Union and Kent State University Stark. He has also taught at the University of Akron, Malone University, Ashland University, Old Trail School, the Avon School of Music, the Strongsville Academy of Music, the Ohio public school system, and the Ohio Music Education Association Convention in Columbus. In addition to his performance and teaching posts, Tom serves on the literature review staff of the International Trombone Association Journal, where he has published several reviews of works for trombone ensemble.
Dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians, Tom currently serves as Vice President of Local 24 of the American Federation of Musicians. He makes his home in Munroe Falls with his wife Janice, who is a music enrichment specialist, and their son Matthew.
“I’ve never loved a trombone more than my T396-A, an instrument expertly designed and crafted by Joseph Alessi and Christan Griego. Producing a powerful, robust, and controlled symphonic sound in every register has never felt so easy! Simply one of the best – if not THE best – horns out there.”