ABOUT THE ARTIST
Thomas Bak, piano
Thomas Bak is a senior majoring in Music Elective Studies and minoring in Music Production at West Chester University. He has been playing guitar since he was 7 years old and piano since he was 10. He performs a diverse range of music, spanning classical, jazz, and rock genres. Thomas began performing live shows at age 11 and became involved in talent shows throughout elementary, middle, and high school. While in high school, he participated in musicals and the rock band program.
Vincent Craig and Carl Cranmer have mentored Thomas throughout his time at West Chester. He has been involved in the Men’s Chorus, Jazz Combos, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Statesman Jazz Ensemble, Mastersingers, and Studio Music Ensemble as either a vocalist or a guitarist. He has also participated in the K-Sound Korean Music Festival and performed 23 times at World Café Live in Philadelphia. Thomas has played at fundraisers for the Autism Science Foundation and other nonprofit organizations. Last year, he performed at the Neurodiversity Employment Network’s 5th anniversary fundraiser at Lincoln Financial Field.
Currently, Thomas volunteers at the Rubato School of Music and works weekends at Boro Café playing piano as customers dine At Rubato, he accompanies students during their performances and provides them with live music experience After graduating, he plans to begin working at the Rubato School of Music for a few years before pursuing his graduate degree, all while continuing to do what he loves.
WOLFGANGAMADEUSMOZART-SONATAINCMAJOR, K.545(1788)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a profound composer of the classical era Renowned for mastering many musical genres such as symphonies, operas, chamber music, and piano works, his compositions are celebrated for their beauty, innovation, and emotional richness. Although his life was brief, his enduring legacy made him one of the greatest composers in the history of Western classical music. This piece showcases his distinctive style and consists of three movements, each titled after the tempo used in them. The Allegro movement features some repetitive phrases and dynamic shifts.
SCOTTJOPLIN-MAPLELEAFRAG(1899)
Scott Joplin was a major composer in the ragtime genre during the Romantic Era. He took techniques from African music into his compositional style. Although his later years were marked by hardship, his legacy remains enduring. This piece is one of his most well-known rags, featuring frequent leaps in the left-hand and swing-inspired rhythms. It was a highly popular dance number in the early 1900s.
DOMENICOSCARLATTI- SONATAINF.MINOR, K.239(17)
Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer renowned for his massive contributions to the development of keyboard music during the Baroque period. His work especially his 555 keyboard sonatas is celebrated worldwide for its virtuosity, innovative use of form, and rich harmonic language. Despite the simplicity and limited resources of the time, his music greatly expanded the technical and expressive possibilities of the harpsichord. This piece is a staple among Baroque keyboard sonatas, featuring several repetitive phrases with inverted variations At times, the left hand mirrors or echoes the right hand, adding to the piece’s intricate texture
MAURICERAVEL-LETOMBEAUDECOUPERIN(1917)
Maurice Ravel was a prominent French composer of the 20th century, closely associated with impressionism and modernism. Some of his piano works are exceptionally challenging to perform. This piece is part of a solo piano suite composed between 1914 and 1917, written in memory of two of his childhood friends who were killed during World War I. It embodies a neoclassical sound, featuring intricate melodies played at a brisk tempo.
BELABARTOK-MIKROKOSMOS(1939)
Bela Bartok was a notable composer of the neoclassical period, known for his creativity and love of experimentation. He is regarded as one of Hungary’s greatest composers. This piece is part of a six-volume collection of works for grand piano, which ranges from simple etudes to more complex compositions. The movement itself has a rare 7/8 time signature, adding to its unique character
VINCEGUARALDI-GINZASAMBA(1965)
Vince Guaraldi was a renowned jazz pianist from San Francisco, best known for composing the scores to the Peanuts Specials from 1965 until he died in 1976. His style blended elements of American jazz and bossa nova. This piece was
written in collaboration with Brazilian jazz guitarist Bola Sete and bears a slight resemblance to his other piece, Skating, from A Charlie Brown Christmas It features a 64-measure guitar solo with a strong Latin influence
STEVIERAYVAUGHAN-LENNY(1983)
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a legendary blues prodigy and guitarist from Texas. He began his career in 1965 at the age of 11 and achieved mainstream success in 1983 at the age of 29. Though his life was cut short at 35 in a helicopter crash, his legacy continues to influence generations of musicians. This piece was composed as a tribute to his then-wife, Lenora Bailey. Featured on his debut album Texas Flood, it is in Eb major and set in 4/4 time. It is a soulful instrumental ballad inspired by the music of Jimi Hendrix.