T.J. started playing music in the 4th grade after his mother called the local music store and asked what the county needed in the way of musicians. The store responded that there weren't many trombone players and the rest is history. After playing in high school with the Maryland All-State Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands, he went off to Virginia Tech to play in the University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Joe Kennedy, Jr. Also while at Virginia Tech, T.J. played in the Quintessential Brass Repertoire and the New River Valley Orchestra. Since college, he has performed with many community groups including the Central Maryland Wind Ensemble, the Goddard Space Fight Center MAD Jazz Band, the Greenbelt Arts Center Pit Orchestra, the Loudoun Concert Band, the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra and the Difficult Run Jazz Band.