Thomas Inderka

Thomas Inderka began playing the trumpet at the age of eleven and later studied at the Cologne University of Music (Aachen branch) and the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. Early on, he played lead trumpet in the North Rhine-Westphalia Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Cologne University Big Band under Jiggs Whigham. His career includes performances in major musicals such as Starlight Express, Les Misérables, and Chicago, mostly as lead trumpeter. He has played with renowned big bands including the HR Big Band, RIAS Big Band, Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and performed alongside artists like Caterina Valente, Sido, Curtis Stigers, and Max Mutzke. Until 2023, he was lead and solo trumpeter in the Big Band of the German Armed Forces. Tours have taken him across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As a studio musician, he appears on numerous CDs and TV productions. Currently, he focuses on smooth jazz projects such as Licence To Chill and also performs baroque music on the natural trumpet in churches, inspired by lessons from Edward H. Tarr.