Thomas Slabaugh II is a retired music educator with a distinguished 36 year career. He has taught as the Director of Bands and Mariachi Ensemble at Davis Senior High School, served on the faculty at UC Davis where he taught band, chamber music, and conducting, the University of Washington, Sierra College, and American River College. He marched and taught in the Sacramento Freelancers Drum and Bugle corps for 10 years, performing in 4 DCI Top 12 Finals and having taught for 1 DCI Top 12 Finals appearance.
Mr. Slabaugh is an alumnus of the University of Washington and Sac State where he holds degrees in percussion and conducting. His primary conducting teachers were Timothy Salzman, Peter Erös, Robert Halseth, and Ronald Holloway. Mr. Slabaugh has also studied conducting with Alan McMurray, Eugene Corporon, Frederick Fennell, Gary Hill, and John Whitwell.
As an internationally published author, Slabaugh has contributions to “A Composer’s Insight” (vol. II & III) and “The Music Director’s Cookbook.” His writings, arrangements, and transcriptions are published through Augsburg Fortress and Meredith Music. His dissertation on the life and music of composers Ron Nelson and Bernard Rands has contributed significantly to the understanding of these composers and their impact upon the wind band movement.