Thomas Lauderdale never intended to become a professional musician. This may be surprising, considering that Lauderdale is best-known as the charismatic band leader of Portland’s self-described “little orchestra,” Pink Martini. With twelve albums featuring songs in twenty-five languages, Pink Martini’s music deftly fuses classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop to create an eclectic and timeless aesthetic that is entirely their own. Now entering its 30th year, Pink Martini has sold millions of albums, and tours their world-renowned repertoire 150 days out of the year, across the globe.