Thomas Schwan, pianist & composer

Pianist and composer Thomas Schwan, of Italian-German origin, was born in Milan on April 3rd, 1985. He started his musical education at the age of eight with Grazia Galletta. In 2006 he graduated in piano with the highest marks and honors from the conservatory of Vicenza under Alessandro Fortuna. While pursuing his degree in piano, he studied composition in the conservatories of Turin and Milan with Gianni Possio and Elisabetta Brusa. He was also taught by pianists Liudmila Georgievskaya, Vladimir Krainev, Marios Papadopoulos, Gary Graffman, Alessio Bax and Alfred Mouledous, former student of Walter Gieseking and Alfred Cortot.Since 2007, Thomas Schwan resides in Dallas (Texas), where he was awarded the “Joel Estes Tate” scholarship to study with the acclaimed pianist Joaquin Achucarro at Southern Methodist University.He has played solo recitals in the United States, Italy and Russia, receiving constant appreciation both from audiences and critics, and he was awarded top prizes in national and international piano competitions in Italy and in the United States.He has composed music for documentary films and for stage plays, as well as several piano, chamber and vocal works currently performed in Italian and American venues. His compositions have been premiered by authoritative performers such as organist Larry Palmer, soprano Camille King and cellist Francesco Mastromatteo, among others. He often performs his own music in concerts.