Tom Shaffer is a music educator and conductor. He has earned the Degrees of Bachelor of Music Education (1971) and Masters of Music Education (1978) from Illinois State University.

Tom has taught Junior High School and High School Band and Chorus in Illinois. Since being in North Carolina, he has participated in various music ensembles, including the Durham Community Concert Band (DCCB), the Chapel Hill Community Band, the Pure Brass Quintet, the Durham Symphony, the Westminster Presbyterian Church Brass Band and the Durham Community Brass Band. He is accomplished on the French Horn and frequently plays in the organizations mentioned above.

Tom's personal style and unselfish dedication to DCCB and to music have made DCCB one of the most successful cultural organizations in the Triangle area. DCCB is an all volunteer organization with no audition requirements. This results in a wide variety of musical skills of its members. Tom brings the entire band to a high performance level, irrespective of the diversity of skills.

Tom is the recipient of the 2008 Kathryn H. Wallace Award for Artists in Community Service through the Triangle Community Foundation.