A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tom Drake joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1987 as Assistant Principal Trumpet. From 2010-13, Drake was appointed Acting Principal Trumpet. Prior to accepting the position with St. Louis, Drake was Principal Trumpet of the North Carolina Symphony from 1985-1987. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he began his professional career as fourth trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic under David Zinman after winning that position as a sophomore.
During the summer, Drake is a member of the artist/faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado. In previous summers, he instructed young musicians at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, the oldest such camp in the nation.
Drake's interests lie in the recording field as well as he is producer for AAM Recordings and Arch Media. He has produced recordings for the SLSO and several of its individual musicians including David Halen, Diana Haskell, and retired members Haruka Watanabe and Marc Gordon. He also helped produce the orchestra's National Public Radio broadcasts from 1996-2000.
Drake and his wife Marian, a frequent substitute cellist with the Symphony, have a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Michael.
