Random Access Music welcomes Thomas Piercy as new Artistic Director

Thomas Piercy

Random Access Music welcomes Thomas Piercy as the organization's new Artistic Director. Mr. Piercy has been a performer in Random Access Music (RAM) concerts since their second season, and has worked closely with and premiered many works by RAM composers.

Mr. Piercy is a critically acclaimed musician with concerto, recital, chamber music, and conducting 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 – performing on the Emmy Award-winning Juno Baby CDs and DVDs; performing with pianist Earl Wild and soprano Frederica von Stade; working with Leonard Bernstein; appearing in a KRS-ONE music video; playing hichiriki and other traditional Japanese instruments in Japan; recording with members of Maroon 5; premiering over 200 works composed for him; performing on Broadway and Off-Broadway, television, radio, and commercial recordings. Piercy has performed at many of the worlds acclaimed concerts halls including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Centre Pompidou (Paris), Wigmore Hall (London), Accademia di Santa Cecilia (Rome), and Tokyo Opera City (Tokyo). He studied at The Juilliard School and Mannes College of Music in NYC, and studied traditional Japanese instruments in Tokyo. Mr. Piercy is an official Rossi Clarinet, Forestone Reeds, and Silverstein ligatures artist, and has recorded for such labels as Albany, Capstone, DGI, Changing Tones, NJST, and Tonada Records.

In addition to his performing activities, Piercy is also the Artistic Director of “Tokyo to New York” concerts which since 2012 has premiered over 100 works by composers from all walks of life and experience: from university students to university professors; from self-taught composers to composers with PhDs; from emerging composers to composers that have won such prominent awards as the Takemitsu Prize, Grammy Award, Latin Grammy Award, the Geneva Prize, and the Pulitzer Prize. As the Executive Director of a non-profit education/performing organization based in NYC for over 20 years, he has received 19 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Special Arts Services program grants, 18 NYSCA Music Program grants, 3 NYSCA composer commission grants, and 19 NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs grants. He has had the honor to serve as a Panel Review member for both NYSCA and NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs. More information at www.thomaspiercy.com.