About Tobi

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Tobi (she/her/hers) grew up in Washington State (Pasco, Spokane, Kent, Seattle) in a musical family, learning classical guitar from a young age. Beginning woodwinds in 5th grade band with her dad’s old chipped clarinet, Tobi began developing  music. One day in middle school, she heard tenor saxophone and fell in love with the sound. She went home that day and asked for lessons. She was blessed to have family, community and scholarship support to study at the University of Washington, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelors in Music Performance, emphasis in Jazz Studies. 

Tobi has studied with many professional musicians along the way including multi-reed players Darren Motamedy, Jordan Ruwe, Jay Thomas, Don Lanphere, Bert Wilson, Nancy Curtis, Bob Reynolds, Rob Scheps, vocalist Nancy King, pianist Randy Halberstadt, band directors Paul Harshman and Alan Paxton, classical clarinetist Mike Gergich, pianist/composer Ann Reynolds, pianist Cynthia Hughen, pianist/composer Kaija, guitarist Susan Palmer, guitarist George Stone, UW  Prof. Michael Brockman (saxophone/arranging), UW Prof. Bill Smith (jazz clarinet/composition), UW Prof. Bill McCall (orchestral clarinet), UW Prof. Marc Seales (jazz piano/jazz history), UW Prof. Roy Cummings (Jazz band), UW Prof. Timothy Salzman (wind ensemble, breathwork). She currently plays and teaches Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, as well as beginning Piano and Guitar. Tobi lives in Seattle and enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, reading, writing, nature, animals, swimming, bicycling, long boarding, paddle boarding and hiking. She supports a greener environment.

Over the last 25 years, Tobi has performed professionally with several bands. She toured and recorded with The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet and Drums across Europe and in the US, from 2002-2007, and with Reptet Jazz Septet in the US, from 2001-2008. She was the first female member of The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra from 2012-2015. She has performed shows in the pit orchestra with The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Village Theatre, Spectrum Dance Studio Theatre, as well as for live radio and TV broadcasts for KEXP, KPLU, Seattle Joe TV, and KING 5 TV. 

Tobi has appeared with Dave Brubeck, Kristen Chenoweth, Branford Marsalis, Anat Cohen, Meshiya Lake, Don Lanphere, Nancy King, and Bert Wilson. Through out her career, she has performed with The Seattle Symphony Orchestra Pops concerts and Ravel's Bolero, The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, and Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra (2001-2006). She has performed and recorded with local bands Clave Gringa, Septet of Darkness, Picoso, Choro Loco, Big World Breaks, Zubatto Syndicate, Yellow Hat Band, Cataldo, Kissing Potion, Publish The Quest, Thione Diop's Afro Groove, The Jefferson Rose Band, B'shnorkestra, Ann Reynolds Jazz Duo, Susan Palmer Jazz Duo, and Night and Day Jazz Trio. 

Tobi currently plays in Seattle-based projects, The Tobi Stone Jazz Quartet and The Jean Lenke Jazz Therapy West Quintet.