Tom Demer has been a classical violist with the Dallas Symphony for more than 20 years, and a kickin’ country kickin’ country fiddler for more than 30. At age 16, he won his first old-time fiddlers’ contest while already the youngest member of the Tucson Symphony. He went on to become Principal Viola of that orchestra while simultaneously earning a degree in music performance from the University of Arizona.
Demer has been a member of the Omaha Symphony and the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and was a founding member of the Durango, Colorado “Music in the Mountains” festival, where he is now principal violist. He has performed with the Dallas new music group, Voices of Change on viola, mandolin, and musical saw, and has recorded chamber music for Klavier Records and for the Hubbard Chamber Music Series. In addition to playing viola for the Dallas Symphony, Tom is their utility fretted/plucked instrument musician and has recorded and toured Europe with them on orchestral mandolin and tenor banjo. As a member of “Dixie-Country,” Demer plays weekly nursing home jazz concerts sponsored by Texas Winds Musical Outreach.
A talented arranger, Tom singlehandedly writes and records full string section parts for commercial pop and rock CD song productions. He once even wore the hat of “Rock ‘n Roll Record Producer” for the ‘90s band “Chamber Pop.” He has written, produced and coached talent routines for a Miss America contestant/violinist. Tom writes all his own orchestral arrangements for Pops fiddling. In addition to being a regular Dallas Symphony Pops soloist, he has been featured in sold-out New Year’s Eve concerts in Fort Worth and Santa Barbara. This season Tom collaborated with The Florida Orchestra in a week of concerts in the Tampa area.
For years he has delighted both nightclub patrons and Pops concertgoers alike with his uniquely entertaining style of authentic country fiddling with an orchestral slant. As he begins his fourth decade as a symphonic musician, Demer continually strives to be among the most entertaining and versatile string players in the business.
|
