InTune

Associate Principal Trumpet Thomas Siders joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Trumpet in January 2010, but his connection with the organization, like many other players, began as a Tanglewood Music Center fellow. A student of Ray Sasaki at University of Texas at Austin and Marie Speziale at Rice University, Siders is also an active clinician and on faculty at local universities and conservatories.

As a member of the trumpet section, which will be highly featured in the upcoming Spring Pops season, we sat down with Siders to get to know him better and hear about his connection with the audience and what he’s looking forward to this season.

InTune: What first set you on the path to becoming a musician? And, how did you first become involved with the Boston Symphony Orchestra?

Thomas Siders: I grew up around music. My grandfather was a music lover and an amateur singer, and he passed on his love of music to my mom, who had a long career as a singer, children’s music educator, and church choir director. My brother was heavily involved in music and my dad has been a lifelong music fan. I started playing piano when I was six and trumpet when I was ten. I enjoyed it and found that I had an affinity for it, and I eventually decided to pursue it as a career. I first became involved with the BSO as a Tanglewood Music Center fellow in 2008 and 2009.

InTune: In the thirteen years you’ve been with the orchestra, how have you seen it change and evolve?

TS: The BSO has a really strong playing culture and institutional memory that informs the unique way that we play - our sound and sense of time as an ensemble are two pillars of the orchestra’s identity. Those things haven’t changed a bit since I’ve been in the orchestra. It’s also always really cool to see how new members add their own unique personalities to the whole while honoring the rich traditions of the BSO.

InTune: What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming Boston Pops season?

TS: I look forward to every Pops season, and this one is no different. From Ragtime to the Roots of Jazz program, to Return of the Jedi, there’s something for everyone, on and off stage!

InTune: How, as a musician, do you feed off the energy of your audience?

TS: For me, it’s really more an appreciation of the audience than feeding off them. Of course, it feels good to hear people applaud and cheer, and you can tell when the audience especially enjoys something that we play. But in the moment, while playing, it’s more about bringing my own personal energy and combining it with my colleague’s efforts. The applause afterwards is icing on the cake. And of course, one of the chief motivations for doing what we do is in order to provide entertainment, illumination, and refuge for our loyal audiences.

InTune: Many people are unaware of everything it takes to successfully transition to Tanglewood. Can you talk about that experience, both on a personal level and for the orchestra and organization as a whole?

TS: Moving out to the Berkshires is a big undertaking. Finding a place to live and finding childcare are a couple of the biggest challenges that Orchestra members and staff face every summer. And for the organization, transferring the bulk of operations to another location is a big deal. It’s a large organization. But being in the Berkshires for the summer is also such a gift. I hope that the BSO continues to have a positive impact on the Berkshires community.

InTune: Outside of the organization, you are also an active clinician. Tell us more about what these kinds of opportunities mean to you.

TS: I have enjoyed teaching private lessons on various scales and levels for over 15 years. It’s rewarding to help young musicians tap into their potential to find personal success and also help to perpetuate the art form.

InTune: Why do you think it is important to be an orchestra musician today? How do you see your role and the role of the orchestra in the community?

TS: The BSO and other orchestras are important parts of the cultural fabric of communities all over the world. In a way they’re like live-action museums. You can come and experience a kaleidoscope of things including old favorites, unearthed obscurities, new, compelling creations and everything in between.