Director of Music - Tom Godfrey

Tom Godfrey is equal parts jazz guitarist/singer, music engraver, and music director.

When he suffered a lip injury that ended his career as a classical trombonist, Tom Godfrey thought his life as a musician was finished, but he fell in love with music all over again when Santa gave him a guitar in 2003. Even as he was struggling through his first chords, Tom was planning a new performance career. As a trombonist, Tom performed with the Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base, the Ohio Light Opera, and in pick-up bands for touring acts that included Rosemary Clooney, George Burns, and the Manhattan Transfer. Reborn as a jazz guitarist, Tom sings and plays his own solo arrangements of jazz classics, performs with the vocal combo Tea for Two, performs in musicals with Act3 Productions, and is a founding member of InTown Band.

As a music engraver, Tom has been preparing printed music for publishers and composers since 1995, completing over 1,300 projects to date. Using Finale music notation software, he has typeset music for almost every conceivable setting: choral music, school band pieces, operas, chamber music, piano, organ, and orchestral works.

Most recently, Tom has been named music director at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation. A reluctant UU, Tom has been attending NWUUC since 2004. The only reason he started going to church in the first place was because his (then) wife wanted to attend, and a UU church was the only one in which he felt comfortable. Starting with singing in the choir, Tom eventually became more and more involved at NWUUC until he found himself playing for services and running the Hungry Ear Coffee House. Three music directors have come and gone since Tom began attending NWUUC. Each time a music director left, Tom served as interim choir director. After the third stint as interim, it seemed like the right time to apply for the position.

Tom is thrilled to start a new chapter in the music program at NWUUC. The vision is simple: Develop and sustain a dynamic, vibrant music program that makes members and visitors want to come back for more.

Visit www.godfreyguitar.com to read more about Tom's performance schedule, recordings, and video clips, and check out his blog at www.godfreyguitar.blogspot.com for a peek into the unusual life of a working musician.