Faculty

Profile

An internationally acclaimed solo and chamber artist, pianist, Thomas Osuga continues to garner accolades for his “prodigious talent” and “legendary sight-reading abilities”  here and also for “Magnificent Interpretation(s)”, “Performances held in highest regards”, and “tour de force” performances abroad. Founder and artistic director of Aurista Chamber Music, a recognized performing organization which has been featured in residencies at New York University (New Music Commissions, Nov 2012), American Museum of Natural History, Yale Club, Staten Island JCC, Youngstown State University and Youngstown JCC in Ohio, and the Interactive Media Performing Arts Collaborative Technology (IMPACT, NYU) and in Laurance Tan’s production of Butterfly Up High in the Betty Oliphant Theatre in Toronto (Oct 2012). His artistic/pedagogical views have been highlighted in both writings, Ambassador Publications, interviews in newspapers (Vindicator, OH), on cable TV (Career Mechanics) and in online formats (ComposersCollaborative). He was nominated by Cleveland Japanese American Citizens League as Japanese American of the Biennium for his bringing of Japanese American piano repertory to the public. Recipient of appointments as Piano Preparatory Co-Chair at Mannes , he is also active on the faculties of InterHarmony International Music Festivals at Arcidosso II (Tuscany) and Sulzbach-Rosenberg (Bavaria)(interharmony.com). His studies include: M.M., Manhattan School of Music, B.M. Youngstown State University, B.A., Kent State University, Doctoral studies at NYU, Saul Braverman Scholarship (MSM), Piano studies with Antonio Barbosa, Tung Kwong Kwong and Arkady Aronov. As Managing Artistic Director for Alexander and Buono International Festivals of Music and Master Class Series, alexanderbuonointl.com, at Carnegie Hall-Weill Recital Hall, faculty member for Teen Pianophoria, teenpianophoria.com, at Hunter College (NYC) and widely recognized clinician and consultant, he actively fosters talent from across the globe.

An enthusiastic advocate of new music, Mr. Osuga is known for collaborations with composers including Eleanor Cory, Youngmi Ha, Steven Sacco, Miyuki Ito, David Loeb, Alejandro Escuer and Robert Rollin, whose 2012 dedication to Aurista was of Klezmer Fantasy Trio and Intermezzo based on Terezin composer Victor Ullmann’s opera Emperor of Atlantis , also dedicated to him. Thomas, in addition to recognized curatorial/impressario duties such as premiere concert curator at Puffin Foundation (Teaneck, NJ) , is Music Director of Trattoria Machiavelli on Upper West Side Manhattan where he presents over one thousand high caliber classical and jazz concerts each year to adoring fans on a daily/nightly basis: machiavellinyc.com. Recordings for Capstone, Legacy and Coronet. He is in demand as adjudicator for many respected music festivals and competitions and many of his students are consistent competition winners both locally and internationally. Mannes Preparatory Division since 1994.