Thomas Rosenkranz

Thomas Rosenkranz is a classical pianist who defies conventional norms in his career. With exceptional command over both traditional repertoire and contemporary music, as well as improvisation, he has established himself as one of the most innovative pianists of his generation. 

 

Rosenkranz first gained national recognition by being awarded the Classical Fellowship from the American Pianists Association in 2003. Since then,  He has performed at prestigious festivals worldwide, including the Lincoln Center Arts Festival, Amalfi Coast Festival in Italy, Rivello in Italy, Shanghai New Music Festival in China, and the Carthage International Festival in Tunisia. Collaborating with esteemed orchestras, Rosenkranz has captivated audiences as a soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony, Beirut National Orchestra, and the Seattle Chamber Orchestra. Notably, he was the featured soloist during Oberlin Conservatory's groundbreaking tour of China.

 

Beyond his musical achievements, Rosenkranz is a passionate advocate for artistic collaboration and diplomacy. As a Cultural Ambassador for the United States Department of State, he has fostered cultural exchange and promoted diplomacy through captivating performances in the Middle East and North Africa. He strives to make classical music accessible in regions where such concerts are rare, taking his music to extraordinary places such as Bali and Borneo in Indonesia, Inner Mongolia, and various parts of Yunnan Province in China. In recognition of his commitment to cultural exchange, he was appointed as a Senior Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan in 2022. During his tenure, Rosenkranz served as an artist-in-residence at Tunghai University, enchanting audiences with his concerts, master classes, and lectures dedicated to American Music.

In addition to his performing career, Thomas Rosenkranz is highly regarded as an artist-teacher. He has conducted residencies and master classes at esteemed institutions such as the Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, Xi'an, Xinghai, Zhejiang Conservatories in China as well as the Hong Kong Academy of the Arts and Taipei Normal University.  Since 2006, he has been a member of the faculty at the soundSCAPE Festival in Italy and Switzerland, where he leads courses on contemporary music and improvisation. Many of his former students have achieved remarkable success, winning prizes in national and international competitions, and holding professorships across the United States and Asia.

​

Rosenkranz pursued his studies with Robert Shannon at the Oberlin Conservatory, where he earned his Bachelor's degree, and continued his education at the Eastman School of Music, completing his Master's and Doctorate degrees. During his time at Eastman, he had the privilege of studying with and serving as a teaching assistant to Nelita True. Additionally, he studied with Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen in Paris, supported by the esteemed Presser Foundation for Music.

Currently serving as the Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Coordinator at the UMKC Conservatory, Rosenkranz's influence extends even further as an honorary guest professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Rosenkranz was honored with the Kauffman Excellence in Research/Creative Activity Award in 2023 from the UMKC Conservatory, acknowledging his unwavering dedication and exceptional achievements in the field of music.