Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of the award-winning MSM Jazz Ensemble for over 25 years, during ...

Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of the award-winning MSM Jazz Ensemble for over 25 years, during which time he also served as the coordinator of the celebrated Commercial Music degree program teaching jazz improvisation, arranging, aural skills, and more. He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of Northern Colorado, as well as degrees from the University of Texas and Henderson State University (AR). Before coming to MSM, he taught for several years at both the university and public school levels and served in the U.S. Air Force, performing with the USAF Academy Falconaires at the Air Force Academy. In addition to his current duties as Principal Trumpet with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and his frequent performances as lead trumpet with famed FM-based funk band Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, he is an active freelance performer in the region known for his stylistic versatility, prodigious improvisational skills, and outstanding trumpet range. Dr. Strait is a Yamaha Performing Artist.