Jay DeWire, Piano

Jay DeWire, a frequent solo performer and member of the West Shore Trio, has appeared up and down the eastern seaboard and is becoming known for both his dynamic interpretations of 20th Century works and his "old world flair". Recent concerts include solo recitals in Pealer Recital Hall at Frostburg State University; Guildenhorn Recital Hall at the University of Maryland in furtherance of a Doctoral Degree, which was completed in 2007; performances of the West Shore Trio across the country including Boston, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and Texas; a collaborative performance in Auer Hall of Indiana University with John Tafoya, then principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra; featured soloist at the First National Convention of the MusicLink Organization (Washington, DC), a solo performance for the National Society of Arts and Letter at the Jefferson Library (University of Virginia), and performances at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Brown Hall at the New England Conservatory (Boston, MA).  Dr. DeWire has also performed in Deer Isle, ME; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; Aspen, CO; Kalamazoo, MI; and Washington, DC.  Recent highlights include concertos by Brahms and Rachmanioff with Charles Ellis and the Prince George's Philharmonic, The Kirchner Project, a tribute to Leon Kirchner and his music, the National Orchestral Institute, the Maryland Percussion Ensemble under the direction of John Tafoya, and the Aspen Music Festival. Dr. DeWire has recorded three live performance solo CD's, including an all 20th Century concert that includes works by Ravel, Debussy, Bartok, Rzewski, and Messiaen. In April 2008, he recorded an all Brahms concert featuring the recently discovered Gavottes, which he arranged and completed for concert performance.

Dr. DeWire began playing piano at the age of four and gave his first solo recital at age 12. He received a B.A. with High Distinction and a Master of Arts in piano performance from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory. In December of 2007 he received a D.M.A. from the University of Maryland School of Music (College Park). He has studied with such distinguished pianists as Joanne Haroutounian, Mimi Tung, Gabriel Chodos, Bradford Gowen, Steve Drury, John Moriarty, and Larissa Dedova.  He has performed in master classes for Claude Frank, Andre Watts, Ruth Laredo, and Tigran Alikhanov, the Director of the Moscow Conservatory, and appeared in several competitions including: The National Society of Arts and Letters Competition, National Symphony Orchestra Competition, Baldwin Competition, Washington, DC Beethoven Competition (Honorable Mention), and was a finalist in the American Musicological Society (Mid-Atlantic Chapter) Writing Competition. Dr. DeWire has also received numerous prizes including the Brander Wyatt Morrison Prize, and a Dean of Faculty Fellowship (UVa), as well as scholarships at the University of Maryland, New England Conservatory and University of Virginia. He currently is on the Faculty at Frostburg State University and maintains his own private studio in Washington, DC area.