Tom Vendafreddo works mostly in the Chicagoland area as a music director, pianist, and performer. Since the early age of 6 (when he played Winthrop in The Music Man) his favorite roles include Hal in Proof, Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Arpad in She Loves Me, Kenny in A Loss of Roses, Harold Bride in Titanic, and most recently Troy Bolton in the Rochester premier of High School Musical. Tom can also be heard in jingles for Cool Whip and Glade Plug-ins and seen in print for Scott Foresman and in promotional videos for 3Com. As an accompanist, he has worked with many programs such as Schaumburg on Stage, ArtReach Educational Theatre, Show Choir Camps of America, and many theatre companies in Chicago. As an educator, Tom is passionate about bringing a quality musical theatre experience to kids of all ages. This year, he music directed The Wiz for the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in IL and the award-winning production of Mame for Midlakes High School in Clifton Springs, NY. Having worked with countless programs through the years, his most recent gig as a teacher proved to be the most rewarding one yet; This summer, Tom was the music director for Hands Together, Heart to Art. This program, run out of Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, brings music, dance and theatre into the lives of children ages 7-14 who have experienced the loss of one or both of their parents. Tom is also a workshop presenter and audition accompanist every year at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, the largest event of its kind in the USA, educating over 10,000 drama students and teachers per year. After his undergraduate work at the Eastman School of Music, Tom hopes to return to Chicago and work professionally; most likely he'll move to NYC shortly thereafter to continue to pursue his dream.