Born in 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Thomas Nordlund grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where he studied with Roger Brotherhood and Jaime Guiscafre. In 1998, he received a scholarship from the Madison Jazz Society and studied with Bob Sneider at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Nordlund holds a Bachelor of Arts in guitar performance from the University of Minnesota Morris. As an undergraduate, he studied with Tim Sparks and performed in a professional dance band in regional venues. He spent a semester abroad in Auckland, New Zealand where he studied with leading Australasian saxophonist Roger Manins. In addition to teaching at the St. Paul Guitar Studio, Nordlund is currently working as a solo jazz guitarist in regional venues and freelancing in a variety of styles.