Thomas McGowan has been drumming since he was 10 years old. He joined the Tyler Junior College music faculty in the fall of 2001. Currently serving as Associate Director of Bands/Percussion Instructor, Mr. McGowan directs the Tyler Junior College Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Apache Punch Drumline, TJC Indoor Marching Ensemble, and serves as instructor for applied percussion. He also assists with the Wind Ensemble, Community Wind Symphony, and Apache Concert Band under direction of Mr. Ronnie Todd.



Tom McGowan received his M.A. and B.M. in music performance from Eastern Illinois University, where he studied percussion under Johnny Lee Lane. His teachers have also included David Courtney, Genero Gonzalez, and Brian Callahan. Before joining the faculty at Tyler Junior College, he served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in percussion studies at Millikin University, Decatur, IL, and staff instructor for the University of Illinois Marching Illini Drumline, Champaign, IL. While in Decatur, Mr. McGowan also served as Band Director for St. Teresa High School. From 1992 through 1999, Mr. McGowan served as Director of Percussion at The Woodlands High School, The Woodlands, TX.



Thomas McGowan stays active year round as a percussion performer and clinician. He held the position of section percussionist with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in both the '99-'00 and '00-'01 seasons. His performance credits also include the Illinois Chamber Orchestra, Millikin/Decatur Symphony Orchestra. The Woodlands Symphony, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra (Lafayette, Indiana), Danville Symphony (Danville, Illinois), U.T. Tyler/Tyler Jr. College Community Wind Ensemble, and the Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra. Mr. McGowan also stays active as a writer and arranger for indoor and outdoor marching percussion, currently writing for the University of Illinois Marching Illini and the Tyler Junior College Apache Band.



Over the years Thomas McGowan has contributed his talent to ten rock bands with both percussion and vocal duties. He joined cover band Take 2 in 2006.