Meet Thomas Pandolfi | International Concert Pianist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thomas Pandolfi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thomas, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was fortunate to be born into a family who adored music, and some of my earliest memories are being surrounded by the glorious sounds of orchestral music, piano music and opera. The piano, in particular, always thrilled me, and I remember as a child of 4 years of age, running over to the instrument every time I heard it on recording, trying to match what I heard through my little fingers. I am told that harmonically and rhythmically everything lined up, even though I had no idea of what I was doing at that point, and that’s when the decision was made that I must start official lessons on my beloved instrument. Having been born in Washington, DC was also beneficial as I was taken to fantastic, inspiring concerts by all the great artists who swept through the city on their annual tours.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an international concert pianist, I tour the world each season performing solo recitals, appearing as guest soloist with symphony orchestras and collaborating with wonderful colleagues in chamber music concerts. To see the joy on people’s faces following a performance is the most rewarding aspect of my career; to know that all of the hours of hard work created a special moment for someone; to realize that the passion I feel in a particular piece of music can be felt equally by someone else…these are the unforgettable moments, and I cherish them, and feel humbled by them. Perhaps the most difficult point came during the height of the pandemic, when it was simply not possible to appear in a live in-person concert. Of course, online events happened, but the special magic of an in-person event was missing. Now that things have begun to return to normal, audiences crave more than ever the desire for live music; it has been worth the wait, worth the perseverance. When I show up for a performance, it is the real deal…there is no act, there is no superfluous gesture—I am there because I want to be, because it is what I love to do, and I want the audience to feel this, and it is always my sincere desire that they do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As with any great city, one can’t do it all in a short time frame, but to catch some of the top favorite attractions in Miami, I’d want to definitely include visiting the breathtaking Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, admiring the art deco historic district, going along Ocean Drive, with a special stop at the 1939 Colony Hotel.

Since my concert tours include Europe, and my heritage is Italian, I always like to have a little bit of that side of the ocean with me, so a Espanola Way would be a must, an area resembling the romantic small towns found in the old country…charming, yet simultaneously eclectic and bohemian.

Little Havana, a stop by Wynwood Arts District, a stroll through Bayside Marketplace, and the Perez Art Museum would also be on the itinerary, as would Everglades National Park and the mysterious Coral Castle.

What would Miami be without the perfect white sand beaches, sprinkled with the colorful Art Deco style lifeguard stations, together with the stunning skycraper dotted skyline? Jet skiing, people watching, chilling on the beach.

Here’s the Italian in me coming back again: Macchialina, Carbone, Luca Osteria (impressive for the cocktails as well as the food), Ariete in Coconut Grove, Stubborn Seed, Boia De, Bourbon Steak….I could go on and on. A lifetime in Miami is not enough to savor these amazing restaurants.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could not be where I am today without the inspirational training I received from all of the magnificent teachers throughout my life, beginning with the earliest musical training from my father, continuing onward through each and every professor at The Juilliard School who pushed me to stretch my musical goals to the stratospheric level.

Website: www.thomaspandolfi.com

Instagram: thomas.pandolfi

Facebook: @thomaspandolfipianist

Youtube: Thomas Pandolfi

Image Credits
Lisa-Marie Mazzucco