John first played piano at six, when his father taught him “Boogie Woogie” and “Alley Cat.” His education then focused on the importance of learning to read music: it provides the ability to learn and enjoy music of any style or genre.
For more than three decades on Cape Cod, John has worked with dozens of people aged 5 to 90+ to help them learn to play piano and bring the joy of music into their lives through their fingers, eyes, and minds.
John is a pianist, composer, music director and concert producer. He has presented more than 1600 performances on three continents, and played piano at Boston’s Symphony Hall and in four concerts with the Cape Symphony. He makes music in concert halls, piano bars, theaters, cabaret venues, churches, festival events, recording studios… any place where music lives is the perfect setting.
In Provincetown, John produces and performs in the popular, long-running Great Music on Sundays @5 concert series. He has been music director for many productions at Provincetown Theater and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.
John's passion for Bulgaria’s music, culture, history, and people led him to a 2019-20 Fulbright Bulgaria grant for music study and performance. He has returned often for concerts in Plovdiv, Sofia, Primorsko, Veliko Tarnovo and Kotel. In 2023, he was the music director and pianist at the Sofia Central Military Club gala celebrating the 30th anniversary of Fulbright Bulgaria and the 120th anniversary of Bulgarian-American diplomatic relations.
John’s music encompasses classical, New Orleans, Broadway, rhythm & blues, gospel, Balkan, Latin, original compositions, and more. Visit www.johnwthomas.com to learn more.
Photo by Jennifer Shannon
