Bio: Thomas Greer, Fellow of the Geyer Guild
Always remember (Greer family motto "Memor Esto" ) that while it is important to toot your horn in good earnest, it does no harm to "toot your own horn", even if as a footnote. Life is short.
Thomas Greer is an 11th-generation American, many of whom were cowboys. His father and mother were both accomplished musicians and teachers, so he came into music naturally. He began playing in grade school, advancing quickly on the horn. He was, as a student of James McGee and Wendell Hoss; recipient of the Nicholas Furjanick Grand Prize and later the George M. Newell Award at the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California.
As a professional he has played with the San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Symphony, California Chamber Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Los Angeles Horn Club, the long-term Las Vegas production show "Hallelujah Hollywood" ("Jubilee" at Bally's), Cape Town Symphony, Natal Philharmonic, Quintessence Chamber Ensemble, as well as recording, film and other freelance work in Los Angeles. His national service was with the Marine Corps.
He has been Adjunct Professor of horn at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, UNLV and the University of Natal. He studied jewelry design and crafting at the Ruth Prowse School in Cape Town. Tom is a long-time member of Mensa and Intertel and is rumored to have a photographic memory (the rumor is sometimes ill-founded)He is married to Susan McCrea, herself a very accomplished hornist (student of Jack Covert & Alan Civil), and is assisted by shop-dogs "Max" (Maxfield Houndworthy) the golden retriever and "Buddy" (Budrick Dogford) the Australian stumpy-tailed cattle dog.
"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving". -Albert Einstein