Dr. Thomas Sherwood

Biography

Tom Sherwood joined the percussion section of the Cleveland Orchestra in September 2015. He previously served as principal percussionist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 1999 to 2015. A native of Fairfax, Virginia, he began his musical career at a young age when he discovered his father’s old drum set packed away in the garage. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, where he was the youngest recipient of the Edgard Varese Memorial Scholarship. He subsequently earned a Master of Music degree from Temple University, studying under Alan Abel. Before joining the Atlanta Symphony, he was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami for two seasons. Over the past 10 years, Sherwood has regularly performed at the Grand Teton Music Festival. He has been featured in 25 recordings with the ASO and New World Symphony, including labels such as Telarc, Deutsche Grammophon, RCA Red Seal, and ASO Media. Sherwood made his solo debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during the 2004-05 season, performing Tan Dun’s Concerto for Water Percussion and Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Robert Spano. His final appearance with the ASO in 2015 featured a performance of Avner Dorman’s 'Spices, Perfumes, Toxins!' In addition to orchestral work, Sherwood is an avid chamber musician with a passion for contemporary music. He is the founding artistic director and percussionist of Sonic Generator, a contemporary chamber ensemble specializing in the performance of electro-acoustic music. Established in 2006, the ensemble has played a vital role in Atlanta’s vibrant new music scene, receiving notable mentions from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With a keen interest in education and support for aspiring young percussionists, Sherwood started the Modern Snare Drum Competition in 2008, an annual event that attracts students nationwide and has led to the commission of more than 20 new works for snare drum. He is a proud endorser of Pearl Drums, Adams Musical Instruments, Freer Percussion, and Zildjian.

Research Interests