Thomas Schwan (Milano 1985), classical pianist, composer, and teacher.
As a pianist, I performed extensively in Italy, the Netherlands, France, England, Russia, Panama, and the United States. While cultivating a repertoire that spans the whole history of Western music, I am currently specializing in the music of J.S. Bach and I recently gave multiple live performances of the complete Well-Tempered Clavier. I was deeply influenced by the instruction, mentorship, and unique musical personality of pianists Joaquín Achúcarro, under whom I studied at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and at Accademia Chigiana in Siena, and Pamela Mia Paul, my major professor at the University of North Texas in Denton. I am now a Joaquín Achúcarro Foundation Legacy Pianist.
Music honors I received include First Prize at the World Bach Competition in Boulder, Colorado (2020) and the Honors Diploma and Monte dei Paschi di Siena Prize from Accademia Chigiana (2011).
As a composer, my music has been performed and/or commissioned by Voices of Change, the Dallas Chamber Music Society, Meadows Wind Ensemble (USA), Abbaye Royale de Saint-Riquier - ACCR (France), Quartetto Mitja, Trio Chenier (Italy), among others. I studied piano with G. Galletta, A. Fortuna, J. Achúcarro, P. M. Paul and composition with G. Possio, E. Brusa, S. Sargon, K. Hanlon, J. Klein. I hold degrees from the University of North Texas (Doctor of Musical Arts, 2021), Southern Methodist University (M.M., 2014) and the Conservatory of Vicenza (B.M., 2006).
Also an avid fine art photographer, I am strongly indebted to the work, writings, and mentorship of Italian photographer and writer Giovanni Chiaramonte. Some of my prints have been featured in art galleries across the United States and were recently acquired by eminent collector and photographer Joaquim Paiva (Rio de Janeiro).
EVENTS
November 16, 2023: two-piano recital with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Mozart/Singer: Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter"; Ravel: Ma mère l'Oye; Gershwin/Grainger: Fantasy on Porgy and Bess. Chautauqua Foundation in Dallas, TX
June 24, 2023: solo recital, Festival Alfredo de Saint-Malo, Panama City. Chopin: Three Nocturnes Op. 9, Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1; Thomas Schwan: Three Hymns (2023) - world premiere; Eduardo Charpentier de Castro: Toccata y Canción (1961); J.S. Bach: Contrapuncti 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 from The Art of the Fugue. National Library of Panama, Panama City
March 21, 2023: J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II. I will be honored to perform Book II of the WTC alongside world-renowned harpsichordist Peter Watchorn, who will play Book I on pedal harpsichord on March 20. Gasson Hall, Boston College, Boston, MA
October 27, 2022: solo recital for Chautauqua Foundation in Dallas, TX. Music by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Debussy.
October 15, 2022: J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
March 31, 2022: J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II. Guest artist recital at Voertman Hall, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
September 24, 2021: piano masterclass for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas, TX
April 18, 2021: two-piano performance with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Poulenc: Sonata for two pianos (1953). Voices of Change Modern and Contemporary Music Ensemble, Dallas, TX
April 12, 2021: two-piano performance with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor for two pianos K. 546/426. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
November 14, 2020: piano duo recital with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Mozart-Singer: Symphonies Nos. 40 and 41. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
October 30, 2020: piano masterclass at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas, TX
October 6, 2020: world premiere of SEVEN NOCTURNES for solo piano. Lecture-Recital at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX
August 15 - September 12, 2020. Group exhibition: WIDE OPEN. BWAC Gallery, New York City. Juried by MoMA Associate Curator Paulina Pobocha
May 10, 2020: online piano recital for Le Salon de la Musique. Music of J.S. Bach.
January-February 2020. Group exhibition: PORTALS. SE Center for Photography, Greenville, SC. Juried by Jane Szabo
March 2, 2019: piano recital. J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
February 12, 2019: piano recital. J.S. Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I. Voertman Hall, Denton, TX
February 4, 2019: two-piano performance with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Gershwin-Grainger: Fantasy on Porgy and Bess for two pianos. Voices of Change Modern and Contemporary Music Ensemble, Dallas, TX
April 20, 2018: World premiere of MUSIC FOR PIANO AND WINDS, commissioned and performed by the Meadows Wind Ensemble. Thomas Schwan, piano. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
April 8, 2018: World premiere of TWO ELEGIES for clarinet and piano and US premiere of CANONE INFINITO for piano six-hands. Paul Garner, clarinet; Liudmila Georgievskaya, Victor Diaz, and Thomas Schwan, piano. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX
November 23, 2017: solo and chamber music concert. National Library of Panama, Panama City. Music by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Debussy
November 8, 2017: solo recital. Voertman Hall, Denton, TX. J.S. Bach: Preludes and Fugues Nos. 1-6 (WTC 1); Beethoven: Sonata Op. 27 No. 2
July 28, 2017: two-piano recital with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Associazione Artemusica in Roana, Italy. Beethoven/Singer: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"; CANONE INFINITO for piano six-hands, with pianist Francesco Pulga; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
June 9-23, 2017: Odyssée Artistic Residency at Abbaye de Saint-Riquier, France. World premiere of CANONE INFINITO for piano six-hands. Solo and duo performances with Liudmila Georgievskaya and Olga Georgievskaya
June 3-4, 2017: piano duo recitals with Liudmila Georgievksaya. William Walton Foundation in Ischia, Italy. Schubert: Fantasy in F minor; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
April 18, 2017: solo recital. Voertman Hall, Denton, TX. World premiere of SIX NOCTURNES (early version, 2016-17); Schubert: Six Musical Moments
March 23, 2017: solo recital. Mountain View College, Dallas, TX. Music by Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Thomas Schwan
March 13-17, 2017: masterclass and solo recital. University of Panama, Panama City. Music by Bach, Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Thomas Schwan
February 15, 2017: two-piano recital with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Caruth Auditorium, Dallas, TX. Beethoven/Singer: Symphony No. 7; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring.
January 8, 2017: piano duo performance with Liudmila Georgievskaya. Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Voices of Change Contemporary Music Ensemble, Dallas, TX