Lincoln East High School
Tom Thorpe is currently in his twenty first year of teaching; fourteenth in his current position at Lincoln East High School. As Director of Bands, Mr. Thorpe is actively involved in all areas of the program, which includes 2 Marching Bands, 4 Concert Bands, 3 Jazz Bands, Percussion Class, Music Theory, Music Technology, and Guitar classes. He also directs the Pep Band during basketball season and the Woodwind Choir in the spring. In 2018, the Lincoln East Music Department was honored with the Nebraska Music Educators Association’s “Exemplary Program Award.”
While under his direction, the Lincoln East Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2012 and 2016 Nebraska State Bandmaster’s Association Conferences in Lincoln. In 2014, Tom was elected to the NMEA Executive Board, serving as Chair of Band Activities.
Prior to his appointment at Lincoln East, Tom served as the Director of Instrumental Music in the Sedalia School District in Sedalia, Missouri from 2001-2008.
Mr. Thorpe holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His professional affiliations include NSBA, NAfME, NMEA, Phi Beta Mu, LEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
