The Principal Trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 2006, Thomas Hooten was born in Tampa, Florida. He earned his bachelor of music degree from the University of South Florida and a Master’s of Music from Rice University. His primary trumpet teachers have included Armando Ghitalla, John Hagstrom, and Don Owen.
In 2000, Mr. Hooten won a trumpet/cornet position with "The President's Own" Marine Band in Washington, D.C., where he was often a featured soloist. While living in the D.C area Hooten was active in chamber and orchestral music and performed with such groups as The National Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony, Washington Symphonic Brass, Arlington and Baltimore Symphonies. While still in the Marine Band Hooten won 2nd trumpet with the Richmond (VA) Symphony and continued to work with them through 2004.
Following his four year enlistment in the Marine Band, he became Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony - a position that he held for two years. While still in Indianapolis, Hooten won auditions for principal trumpet in both Houston and Atlanta.
Mr. Hooten has appeared as soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on Bach’s Bradenburg Concerto #2, The Atlanta Symphony as well as with The Keystone Winds at both the International Trumpet Guild conference and the WASBE conventions.
Mr. Hooten has given master classes and recitals throughout the United States including Indiana University and Illinois State University. Since 2006, Mr. Hooten can be heard on numerous Atlanta Symphony recordings on the Telarc label - including Scriabin’s Poeme of Ecstasy and Gandolfi’s Garden of Cosmic Speculation.