The art of
listening
begins here.

Born in the Netherlands in 1972, Thomas Penders began playing piano at the age of eleven — and almost immediately began improvising and composing his own music. In 1989, he auditioned for and was accepted at the Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam, one of Europe's most distinguished institutions for classical training.

At the Conservatory, Thomas studied under Aquilles Delle-Vigne — a student of the legendary Claudio Arrau and a direct fourth-generation descendant of the Franz Liszt teaching lineage. He also participated in master classes with Vladimir Tropp. This places Thomas in one of the most celebrated and unbroken lines of classical piano tradition in the world.

In 1995, Thomas moved to the United States, giving his American debut recital in 1996. He continued his musical education by studying Music Theory & Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and studied composition privately with Professor Elinor Armer in Berkeley, CA — a distinguished American composer and longtime faculty member of the Conservatory. Between 1999 and 2005, he composed several symphonies, piano sonatas, and études, and continues to develop and promote his original compositions. More of his music will be performed in future recitals.

Today he brings this rare depth of European classical training, performing experience, and compositional understanding to students of all ages across the North Bay — in person at your home, or online wherever you are.