Thomas Yee
Associate Professor of Piano
Pianist Thomas Yee, from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada has won First Prizes in over 20 national and international competitions. Most recently, he earned an unprecedented distinction from his alma mater, Memorial University of Newfoundland. In October 2005, Dr. Yee was presented with the Horizon Award for Lifetime Achievement under the age of 35 for excellence in performance, teaching and community service. Highlights of his career include winning top prizes at the Josef Hofmann International Piano Competition where he was also awarded a special prize for the best performance of the imposed piece, Ludmilla Kneskova International Piano Competition where he also won a special prize for best etude, Le Tremplin International (International Stepping Stone) where he also won a special prize for best contemporary work, Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association Schubert Recital Competition, Concours de Musique du Canada, Young Artists Concert Tour Series Competition and the Eastman-Hamamatsu Piano Competition among others.
Dr. Yee earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland where he studied with Maureen Volk and received the University Medal for Academic Excellence. He received his Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder studying with Angela Cheng and Alvin Chow. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with and was teaching assistant of Nelita True. He has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Currently, he is enjoying his seventh year at UH and is currently Associate Professor and Associate Music Department Chair. He has also served on the faculty at the State University of New York at Buffalo. As a chamber musician he is a member of a faculty trio, Trio Xia, with flutist Dr. Frederick Lau and cellist Dr. I-Bei Lin. Within the past year, Trio Xia completed two concert tours of Taiwan. He is also a member of Trio Benetri, with violinist Lynn Kuo and cellist Rafael Hoekman.
Dr. Yee has performed as guest soloist with orchestras throughout Canada and the United States and has performed extensively as soloist, chamber musician and collaborative artist. He was Guest Artist and Juror at the Besparmak International Piano Competition and Festival in Cyprus. Notable past engagements included a performance of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Honolulu Symphony and the Tchaikowsky Concerto with the UH Symphony Orchestra. Recent engagements include a performance of Liszt's Totentanz with the UH Band, Grieg Concerto with the Hawaii Youth Symphony, Tchaikowsky Concerto with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, chamber music concerts in Japan with Trio Xia and a solo recital at the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Dr. Yee has received generous financial assistance from the Liberace Foundation, Canada Council, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and University of Hawaii Research Council.
Dr. Yee, through the Foster Parents Plan, is proud to be the foster parent of a 12 year old boy named Dukervens from Haiti. A running enthusiast, he is thrilled to have completed the 2008 Honolulu marathon in 3048th place, a 41 minute improvement over last year.