Old Town Playhouse announced Tuesday that local musician and educator Tom Stokes has died.

Stokes was best known locally for his contributions to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS), where he taught music at virtually every level – from special education, to elementary music, to junior high and high school choirs. Stokes also started the Men of Note choir at Traverse City Central High School, served for years as the district’s K-12 music coordinator, and earned “Teacher of the Year” honors from the Michigan High School Vocal Music Association in 1994.

“We sadly share the news that Tom Stokes passed away on August 1,” Old Town Playhouse wrote in a social media post. “Tom was well known in Traverse City as a vocalist, educator, musician and director... We were lucky enough to work with Tom on many shows over the OTP history, including Sweet Charity, Hay Fever, Gypsy, City of Angels, and Carousel, among so many others… Our OTP family celebrates his talent and extends sympathy to his family.”

The Ticker wrote about Stokes and his legacy in January 2023, when Traverse City Music Boosters organized a tribute concert to honor his impact on local music education. That concert can be viewed in full here.