Paul Tomashefsky

Bio

Born in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Tomashefsky attended the Connetquot High School in Bohemia, Long Island. His interest in Jazz was first ignited under the leadership of Band Director "Red" Reynolds. He has been on the faculty of the Westborough Public Schools Fine Arts Department since September 1989. His teaching responsibilities have included; grade five general music, chorus and band. He was the director of the Bentley College Jazz Ensemble in Waltham, MA from 1985 until 1995. He has also worked as an administrator for the College Gate/College Academy Summer school program for gifted and talented children, based in Stoughton, MA. He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education in 1983 from the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts. While at Berklee, he studied with; Lou Mucci (Lead Trumpet player for the Gil Evans / Miles Davis Orchestra), Mike Metheny, Jeff Stout and (guitarist) Jackson Schultz. He received the Art Farmer Jazz Performance Scholarship . Before moving to Central Massachusetts, he held teaching positions in Boston, Newton, Malden, Duxbury, and Dedham, MA. Presently teaching at the Mill Pond Intermediate School as an Instrumental Band director, Mr. Tomashefsky was the recipient of two Westborough Education Foundation Teaching Grants: "Music Notation in the next Millenium" in 1996 and in 2001 for "Journey into Jazz" which encourages grade five students to explore and perform music in a jazz ensemble setting. As a performer, he is a recognized "Yamaha" performing Artist. He currently plays Trumpet with the Westborough based Classic Rhythm & Blues group TailSpin. Past performing groups have included: Quintessential Brass , Bobby Rydell , The Four Tops, Urban Renewal , Jacques D'Ambroise and the National Dance Institute (Under the Direction of Peter Mansfield) and his own Spectrum Jazz Quintet . In 1979 he won national recognition for his visual art skills in DownBeat Magazine for "best album design concept" on Chuck Mangione's recording: Children of Sanchez. He also has several book covers published through Charles Colin Music in New York City. He recently had a Solo Transcription of Terell Stafford's performance on The Fletcher Henderson tune; "Soft Winds" from his CD "New Beginnings" published in the April 2004 edition of Down Beat magazine. His NEW Jazz Techniques book for Bb Trumpet is entitled "Jazz Inspiration for Improvisation" which features works by Clifford Brown, Rebecca Coupe Franks, Emil Haddad, Joe Magnarelli, Mike Metheny, Jeff Stout, Terell Stafford, & Jack Sheldon, and is currently pending national publication.

While not busy teaching or performing, Mr. Tomashefsky enjoys spending time with his wife Ann, their son Jonathan, daughter Kathryn, and their two "Jazz Cats" Maury and Sebastian.

His Trumpet equipment features the New YTR 8345G Xeno Bb Trumpet .462 Large Bore and The YTR 8335RG Xeno "Shot Blast".459 reversed Lead Pipe (Matte Finish pictured above) and a Bobby Shew model YTF-6310Z Flugelhorn, all designed by Yamaha. He has been a Yamaha Trumpet artist since 1988. He uses a Bach 3C Mega Tone Bb trumpet mouthpiece for classical trumpet / organ solo work, Warburton 5S / Curry 3Z for R&B Lead Trumpet, a Curry 3TF for small combo Jazz work, and a Curry 3C Flugelhorn mouthpiece. His equipment philosophy is: "Use the best and most comfortable equipment for the most demanding Jobs."

He can be reached at:

The Mill Pond Intermediate School

tomasheP@westborough.k12.ma.us

6 Olde Hickory Path Westborough, MA 01581

(508) 836-7780 ext: 3048 (voice mailbox)