Tom is a recognized expert on international music, and has chaired and participated in music festivals and panels such as the public radio and music personnel conferences, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. He has also given many pre-concert lectures for UCLA Performing Arts, the Hollywood Bowl, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Moderator: UCLA Fowler Outspoken Conversation with Kenny Burrell, John Hasse, and Quincy Jones: Jazz Diplomacy, 2011
Moderator & Panelist: UCLA Fowler Museum Sonic Nigeria, 2011
Keynote Address: World Music, Singapore Live! Singapore, 2010
Panelist: Jazz and World Music, Singapore Live, Singapore, 2010
Lecture: Palos Verdes Library, “What is World Music” 2010
Lecture: Broad Stage (Ludovico Einaudi, Luciana Souza), 2009
Lecture: UCLA for Gloria Cheng’s class, 2008
Lecture: Crossroads School Santa Monica Introducing World Music, 2007
Preconcert Lectures: Hollywood Bowl, 1999-2007
Preconcert Interview: Walt Disney Concert Hall, (James Moody, Sonny Rollins), 2005-06
Panelist: Music publications panel, Los Angeles Times Book Festival, 2004
Panel Leader and Moderator: IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators), 2003
Keynote Address: World Music, ISPA NYC, New York, 2000
Lecture: UCLA Film and Television Archives (“Tampopo”), 2000
UCLA Center Circle Lecture: “What is World Music?”, 1999
Pre-Concert Lectures: UCLA Performing Arts(Joe Zawinul, Madredeus, Paco de Lucia), 1994-2000
Book Tour: Rhythm Planet: The Great Music Makers (Rizzoli, Borders, Dutton’s), 1998
Panel Moderator: World Music College Media Journal Music Marathon New York City, 1990
Book Tour: Stolen Moments (Border’s, Book Soup, Duttons, UC Irvine), 1988
Panel Leader & Moderator: Music Personnel Conference, St. Paul, Minn., 1985
Panel Leader & Moderator: Public Radio Conference San Diego, 1983
Presentation: KCRW’s Eclectic Format, Montreal Jazz Festival, 1983