Thomas May, Assistant Cello
Vincent and Debra Maffeo Chair
Thomas May is the principal cellist of the Southern Illinois Music Festival. Thomas is formerly the orchestra teacher at both Gulf Coast and Barron Collier high schools. He received his B.M. degree from Augustana College and his M.M. degree from the University of Illinois. He has also pursued graduate studies at Indiana University.
Thomas has studied with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Janina Ehrlich, Don Moline, Alice Baker and Richard Noyes. He has also performed with many other orchestras including the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, the Quad-City Symphony, the Rockford Symphony and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Italy.
Thomas lives in north Naples with his wife, daughter, son and multiple pets. He has been a member of the Naples Philharmonic since 1991.
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Are there other musicians in your immediate family?
My mother is a singer, and my brother plays trumpet.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I own a small honey company in Naples.