Tommy Dobbs is the Visiting Instructor of Music- Percussion at the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith and Treasurer for the Arkansas Chapter of PAS (Percussive Arts Society). He is currently ABD towards a Doctor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance at the Florida State University. He holds a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Florida.
An active performer and educator, Tommy has performed recitals and given master classes at universities and secondary schools throughout the United States. Tommy is currently the Principal Percussionist for the Fort Smith Symphony and member of Duo Breedlove, an Arkansas based saxophone and percussion duo. He has served as Acting Principal Percussionist for the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and Principal Timpanist for Sinfonia Gulf Coast in 2013/2014. He was the recipient of the prestigious EMF Percussion Internship with The Eastern Music Festival, where he performed as Section Percussionist in the 2014 EMF Festival Orchestra under Gerard Schwarz. He has performed and presented at conferences such as the Arkansas Day of Percussion, International Saxophone Conference, CBDNA Regional Conferences, and the American Bandmasters Association.
Recently, he performed in Carnegie Hall as a member of What Is Noise, a cutting-edge new music ensemble dedicated to the music of living American composers. Previously, in 2008, he performed in Carnegie Hall with the University of North Florida's Wind Ensemble. Likewise, Tommy has performed on master class for musicians such as Eighth Blackbird, The Presidents Own Marine Band, Third Coast Percussion, The Meehan/Perkins Duo, Penderecki String Quartet, Cythnia Yeh, Jake Nissly and Jauvon Gilliam.
Tommy was a member of the Florida State University Percussion Ensemble in 2011, when the group won the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition, and he can be heard on the ensemble's most recent recording, Volume Two: Not Far From Here. Other recording credits include Omar Carmenates’ critically acclaimed The Gaia Theory on New Zealand's Rattle Records and Adam Silverman's Percussion Music on Calabaza Records. He has premiered and/or commissioned works by Per Andreasson, Adam Silverman, John Psathas, Ivan Trevino, Marc Mellits, William Funk, Luis Rivera, Benjamin Fraley, and Jamie Whitmarsh.
He is a proud endorser of Sabian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, and Innovative Percussion Inc.