Piano Recital with Thomas Graff

Piano Recital with Thomas GraffPROGRAMME
GEORGE GERSHWIN
Rhapsody in Blue
An American in Paris
Song selections from 'George Gershwin at the Keyboard'
Gershwin/Earl
Wild Fantasy on themes from Porgy and BessThomas Graffwas born in Cardiff and began to play the piano at the age of four. He gained a scholarship to the Junior Department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama at the age of nine, later studying piano with Richard McMahon.He studied music at the University of Bristol and continued his piano studies under the tutelage of Raymond Clarke. His recitals featured Liszt, Prokofiev and Ravels piano works. He won the University Concerto Competition in his final year, performing Shostakovichs 2nd Piano Concerto.Thomas was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music with distinction in 2019, with a specialism of 20th century piano music and a repertoire including Prokofievs 7th piano sonata, Ravels Gaspard de la Nuit and Messiaens Ile de Feu 1 and 2.He is active in choral accompanying and performing chamber music as well as solo repertoire. He has recently been appointed musical director of the prestigious Wessex Male Choir and conducted the choir during its latest tour, in Krakow, Poland, and its participation in the Cracovia Cantans 2019 competition, where it was awarded two first prizes.He has performed at a wide range of venues including the Welsh Millennium Centre and Colston Hall.Thomas is also a violinist and spent many years in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales.