Thomas Pandolfi, Piano September 8, 2010

Downtown Piano Works warmly welcomes back International Concert Pianist Thomas Pandolfi to our Fine Artist Concert Series, for an evening of works by (TBD) As always, there is no charge for admission but space is limited to 65. Please RSVP (301) 631-1234 to guarantee a seat for this performance.
American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is emerging as a prodigious virtuoso who excels in reviving the core repertoire from the "Golden Age of Pianism." Praised for his interesting and innovative programming, his recitals regularly include works by Busoni, Godowsky, Dohnanyi and Chasins, and his orchestral appearances often feature concerti by Paderewski, MacDowell, Moszkowski and Anton Rubinstein.

The young pianist's career has already included performances with such European orchestras as The George Enescu Philharmonic, The Cluj Philharmonic, The Moravian Philharmonic, The National Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldova, The Tiraspol Philharmonic, and The Galati Philharmonic, as well as the American symphony orchestras of Mississippi, Cedar Rapids, Asheville, Princeton, San Angelo, York, Fairfax, Northbrook, Great Falls, and Owensboro to name but a few. He has collaborated with such conductors as Dimitru Goia, Sabin Pautza, Peter Schmelzer, Mihail Agafita, Grigori Moseico, David Russell Hulme, Petronius Negrescu, Murry Sidlin, Andreas Delfs, Christian Tiemeyer, Ron Spigelman, William Kushner, Nicholas Palmer, William Hudson, Kirk Muspratt, Kim Allen Kluge, Robert Hart Baker, Crafton Beck, Lawrence Rapchak, Gordon Johnson and Vincent Zito. Following a performance of MacDowell's D Minor Piano Concerto with The George Enescu Philharmonic, The Bucharest Cultural Observer lauded Pandolfi's "virtuosity, beautiful touch, sensitivity and broad scope...logical phrasing and expressive percussiveness...a soloist whom we would like to hear again." Of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Asheville Symphony, The Asheville Citizen-Times remarked, "Pandolfi is a standout among today's young pianists, demonstrating a great technician's grace, finesse and polish...his virtuosity and strength might have had some believing that Liszt himself had taken over the keyboard." Equally popular as a recitalist, Pandolfi has appeared in concert halls nationwide. The Washington Post has described him as "an artist who is master of both the grand gesture and the sensual line. Pandolfi possesses first-rate technical skills, an unerring comma nd of phrasing, a quicksilver touch and cunning legerdemain when it comes to pedaling...etched with calm and crystal clarity...outstanding." New York Concert Review has characterized Pandolfi's interpretations as containing "high level pianism and tasteful, diversified musical ideas...crystalline texture and deft coloration... charm and bracing elan."

During the 2008-09 season, Pandolfi performed debut recitals in Canada, Germany and China, appeared with The Aberystwyth Symphony in Wales, and toured twice throughout Eastern Europe, both in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras. During last season, he also performed with a number of American symphony orchestras, and presented recitals throughout the United States. Highlights during the 2009-10 season, include the world premiere of British composer, Simon Proctor's, dazzling and unique "James Bond" Piano Concerto in London. He will also perform this work in the USA with the St. Augustine Symphony (FL), and Symphonicity (VA), along with the "Warsaw Concerto", and make guest solo appearances with The Great Falls Symphony (MT) in D'Indy's Symphony on a French Mountain Air for Piano and Orchestra, The Allegro Chamber Orchestra (PA) in Hummel's Piano Concerto in A Minor, The Memphis Symphony in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, The American Festival Pops Orchestra in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for the Gala Opening Night of Merchant Hall at The Hylton Performing Arts Center (VA), The National Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldova in Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, The Cluj Philharmonic in Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, and The George Enescu Philharmonic (Bucharest, Romania) in the Albeniz "Concierto Fantastico". Audiences this season will also enjoy his artistry in New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Delaware, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Pandolfi earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees as a scholarship student.