Jon Thurmond (tuba) grew up in a musical household, the son of a church choir director. In the sixth grade, Jon joined the school band and was given a tuba mouthpiece and a fiberglass Sousaphone to practice at home. This led to a lifelong love and appreciation of the tuba and music making.

Jon holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from The University of Kansas and a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from Middle Tennessee State University. He also studied Music Education at Northwestern University.

Jon’s tuba teachers include the late Arthur Hicks, Rex Martin, David Loucky, and Scott Watson. Additionally, he has performed in master classes with the late Arnold Jacobs, Dan Perantoni, Sam Pilafian, and Jeffrey Funderburk.

Jon previously taught band and choral classes at Henry County Middle School (New Castle, KY). While attending KU, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Marching Jayhawks and taught undergraduate brass pedagogy for Music Education students.

Jon has also served on staff for the Midwestern Music Camp and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, as well as instructed low brass sections for numerous high school marching bands in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.