The 18-year-old is lead singer of Taking the Fall, which won the Otago Smokefree Rockquest in 2006 and 2007, and competed in the national final last year.
The five-member band's success in Otago earned it a spot as "guest band" at the Rockquest competition in Dunedin and Invercargill, where it performed for the competitors while the judges made their decision.
The group cut its first CD last year titled 30,000 feet.
Tom says Taking the Fall's growing status in the region was partly because he doesn't like doing things by halves.
"If you are going to do a job, it's worth doing it well. I'm not naturally gifted so I have to be focused and hard-working to succeed."
Tom is also a songwriter and spends many hours recording his own compositions at home using his computer.
When Tom is not playing a guitar, he is wielding a tennis racket and has represented Otago in under-12, under-14 and under-16 teams.
He is also a respected football player, having represented Otago in the under-14 team and captained the school's 1st XI (2007-08) on a tour to China.
Despite plans to study law overseas, music will not be far from his mind.
Tom hopes to become a contract lawyer for musicians.
Achievements: 1st Otago Regional Council speech competition (2008); Otago Smokefree Rockquest winner (2006-07); New Zealand Smokefree Rockquest finalist (2007); NCEA level 1 and 2 excellence; French student exchange (2008); Scholars Tie (2006-07); sporting, academic and music blues awards (2006-08); formal committee (2008).
Role model: Singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy from The Muse.
Hopes for the future: To study law and become a music contract lawyer.