Thomas Schwan
Thomas Schwan (Milano, 1985) is an Italian–German pianist and composer.
He performed extensively as a recitalist in major venues in Italy, the Netherlands, France, England, Russia, Panama, and the United States. Music honors 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 in Siena, Italy (2011). He is specializing in the interpretation of the keyboard music of J.S. Bach, and has recently given multiple performances of the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier. Upcoming projects include the integral performance and recording of the WTC I and II and The Art of the Fugue.
As a composer, his music was performed and/or commissioned by members of the Asko|Schoenberg Ensemble Amsterdam, Voices of Change, Dallas Chamber Music Society, Meadows Wind Ensemble, Quartetto Mitja, Trio Chénier, and other renowned ensembles and soloists in Europe and in America. He was recently awarded the prestigious Odyssée Artistic Residency as a pianist and composer at Abbaye Royale de Saint-Riquier (France), where he was commissioned a new work to be premiered onsite.
He taught piano and composition masterclasses in Italy, the Netherlands, and Panama, and maintains anactive performing and teaching schedule worldwide. He completed his studies at Southern Methodist University with J. Achúcarro (piano) and K. Hanlon (composition) and at the University of North Texas with P. M. Paul (piano) and J. Klein (composition). Formerly he also studied piano with A. Fortuna and G. Gallettaand composition with S. Sargon, E. Brusa, G. Possio.
Also active as a visual artist, he received mentorship from renowned Italian photographer and writer Giovanni Chiaramonte. His own photographic prints were exhibited in professional art galleries across the United States and made their way to international art collections such as the Joaquim Paiva Collection in Rio de Janeiro. www.thomasschwan.com
