Thomas Piercy and Guests- “Tokyo to New York”

Clarinetist Thomas Piercy with Shoichiro Tanaka (piano), Colleen Schmuckal (shamisen), Hideyuki Tsuchiya (shakuhachi), Go Mochizuki (mandolin)

Program:
1.MINAKO TOKUYAMA “Farewell to Teacher O” for clarinet and piano
2.IPPO TSUBOI “Raining, 3:50 a.m.” for clarinet and mandolin
3.GILBERT GALINDO “HYMN A Nod to Hildegard” for clarinet and mandolin
4.YU KUWABARA, “Mirror rim” for clarinet and mandolin
5.JUSTIN HUNG “Serenade for the Last Time” for clarinet and mandolin
6.MASATORA GOYA “Conversation” for clarinet and mandolin
7.REIKO FUETING “Sonne.Ohne.Leben.” for clarinet and piano
8.JEAN-PATRICK BESINGRAND “La cage sombre des lucioles” for shakuhachi and clarinet
9.COLLEEN SCHMUCKAL “Call to Sunrise” for clarinet and shamisen

Program note:
“Tokyo to New York” - A concert of music composed for clarinetist Thomas Piercy by Tokyo- and NYC composers. Works include pieces for clarinet and piano, clarinet and mandolin, clarinet and shamisen, clarinet and shakuhachi. Most of these compositions were composed during the Covid-19 pandemic while the composers were on lockdown. They come from all walks of life and experience: college students to college professors; from composers in the early stages of their careers to international award-winning composers. Thomas Piercy has premiered over 300 works composed for him and has had the honor to work with these composers. Composers on the program: JEAN-PATRICK BESINGRAND, REIKO FUETING, MASATORA GOYA, YU KUWABARA, COLLEEN SCHMUCKAL, IPPO TSUBOI.

Biography:
Thomas Piercy – Clarinet “Passionate” The New York Times. “The intrepid clarinettist” The New Yorker. Thomas Piercy is a critically acclaimed musician with orchestral, concerto, recital and chamber music appearances throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. He has been described by The New York Times as “Brilliant...playing with refinement and flair…evoking a panache in the contemporary works.” A versatile artist defying categorization – performing on the Emmy Award-winning Juno Baby CDs and DVDs; performing with pianist Earl Wild and Frederica von Stade; working with Leonard Bernstein; appearing in a KRS-ONE music video; playing hichiriki in Japan; recording with members of Maroon 5; premiering over 300 works composed for him; performing on Broadway and Off-Broadway, television, radio, and commercial recordings. Studied at the Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music. Clarinet studies with Gervase De Peyer, Dr. Stephen Johnston, Leon Russianoff, and Kalmen Opperman; hichiriki studies with Hitomi Nakamura. Recordings for Albany, Capstone, DGI, Changing Tones, NJST, Tonada Records and more. More information: www.thomaspiercy.com