Music Minster

Born in Kingsport, Tennessee, Tommy Strong has been a resident of Florida since the age of one.

            A 1982 graduate of Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida, he graduated in the top 15% of his class.  While in high school he chose music as his career and began formal music lessons on the bassoon and performed with his high school’s concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz band, and marching band of which he was drum major his senior year.  He was a member of the Modern Music Masters Association (Tri-M), a music club for outstanding high school musicians.  He was also a member of the West Coast Symphony’s Youth Orchestra program. He was chosen as 1st chair for the bassoon section for the 1982 Florida All-State Orchestra.   He was the first in the long history of his high school to receive the leadership and service awards for both band and orchestra.

             Tommy received his Associates in the Arts (A. A.) degree from Manatee Junior College in December of 1984.  While attending MJC he was active in all musical ensembles (band, orchestra, jazz band, and chorus). His last semester at MJC Tommy was one of five students that earned the Music Performance Proficiency Award.  He also performed with the Madrigal Singers during their annual Madrigal dinners as a vocalist and in the instrumental consort.  In March of 1985 Tommy traveled with the Madrigal Singers on a trip to Europe where they performed at various venues throughout England, Belgium, and The Netherlands.  Tommy’s most memorable performance was being able to play a flute solo in Westminster Cathedral in London.

             Tommy received his Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree from Florida State University in 1988.  While at FSU he performed with the concert band, symphonic band, wind orchestra, opera orchestra, marching band, and several smaller chamber music ensembles.

             Tommy’s first teaching position was music director at the Apalachicola Jr/Sr High School, in Apalachicola, Florida. He revitalized the school’s music department.  Starting with a beginning band of 12 and a chorus of 6 members. These groups grew to 40 in the band and 30 in the chorus.  He also established a marching band by his second year at the school.

             In August of 1990 Tommy moved to Jacksonville to be closer to his parents.  He taught at Hilliard Jr/Sr High School for one year. He taught band classes and private instrumental lessons at many of the area private schools for about 6 years and during this time he began to perform with several of the  ensembles in the area eventually giving up teaching to become a full time professional performing musician.

            He became a member of the First Coast Pops Orchestra (FCPO) in 1990, eventually becoming the conductor of FCPO, a position he held for 6 seasons.  While conducting the FCPO he was asked to conduct two Broadway shows (Lil Abner and Gypsy) performed by the Youth at the Beaches Arts Guild (YBAG). In 1991 Tommy founded a woodwind quintet which was known as No String Attached.  The ensemble performed in the Jacksonville area with most of the music performed having been arrangements written by him.  Tommy has also performed with the Central Florida Orchestra in Ocala, the First Coast Wind Ensemble, in the pit orchestra for the First Coast Opera (Madam Butterfly and Pirates of Penzance), and the pit orchestra for Players By The Sea (Sweeney Todd). He currently performs with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and the St. Augustine Community Orchestra where he has held the positions of Librarian, Personnel Director, and is currently 1st chair bassoon, section leader and the Associate Conductor.  Tommy has also performed extensively with the Chamber Music Society of the Good Shepherd where he has performed on bassoon, contrabassoon, alto recorder, and flute. Tommy was also a vocalist in the chorus of The Church of the Good Shepherd for several years. He is currently performing with the University of North Florida Wind Ensemble and plans to enter the UNF College of Music in the fall of 2010 to obtain his Master’s degree in conducting.

      On a more personal note, Tommy has a wonderful partner, Jim Worden, who supports and encourages all of his musical endeavors.