Equally devoted to music performance and education, Tommy Hawthorne is a double bassist familiar with the instrument from every angle. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and shaped by early experiences as an instructor with the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association (TYSA), Tommy welcomes a study of the instrument centered on joy and continuous exploration. A sought-after performer in numerous ensembles throughout the region, Mr. Hawthorne currently serves as an active section bass with Symphony Tacoma and enjoys playing with a variety of other groups including Tacoma City Ballet, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Olympia Symphony Orchestra, The Sound Ensemble, and Vashon Opera, among others.
Alongside his role as Lecturer of Double Bass at Central Washington University and private studio instruction, Tommy also works to instruct and coordinate various music education efforts throughout the South Sound region of Washington state as Education Manager at TYSA. Offering sectionals to middle and high school bass players, spearheading new educational programs like the Tacoma Community Ukulele Project to expand access to music education, and coordinating offsite concerts and events are just a few of the projects Tommy enjoys contributing to at TYSA.
During the summer, Tommy serves as both manager and bass faculty at the Hammond Ashley – TYSA Double Bass Workshop as well as the Evergreen Music Festival. He also serves as manager of TYSA’s unique intersection of jazz and classical repertoire, their Summer Jazz Orchestra.
Holding his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in Double Bass Performance from the University of Michigan, Tommy has had the good fortune of studying double bass under the tutelage of many renowned instructors including Dr. Diana Gannett, Scott Pingel, Maximillian Dimoff, and Ranaan Meyer. When not playing or teaching bass, Tommy can be found hiking, disc golfing, or playing a board game with his friends and family.