Past Music Directors

For 46 years, Thomas Cook (Music Director Emeritus), led the Macomb Symphony Orchestra with style and grace. He had a vision to bring orchestral music to Macomb County and has more than succeeded in this mission. Mr. Cook holds degrees from Wayne State University in Applied Music (B.Mus) and Musicology (M.Mus). He studied conducting with Detroit legend, Valter Poole at Wayne State. Outside of his degrees, he has continuing education and study through the University of Michigan and has participated in workshops around the country. He conducted the Macomb Symphony Orchestra for over 35 years, served as guest conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Grosse Pointe Theater and numerous high school orchestras.

He continues to work as a clinician and adjudicator for high school orchestras. Mr. Cook served as Professor of Music at Macomb Community College where he taught courses in theory, ear training and music history and coordinated the applied music program.  He has been the trombonist/manager of the Detroit Brass Society (quintet) for over thirty years.