Thomas Kotcheff Although son to Ted Kotcheff, Thomas is not only onboard for a personal glimpse into his father’s life. A native of Los Angeles, California, Thomas has performed extensively throughout Southern California as both a composer and a pianist. He has received commissions from The Los Angeles Philharmonic Committee, Trio Appassionata, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Alpha Walker Music Studios, and new music saxophonist Kim Reece. Thomas was the recipient of funding from a Presser Foundation Award for the commission of his piano trio gone into night are all the eyes. He was selected as a winner of the 2012 J. Dorfman International Memorial Competition in Germany for his piano and percussion duo, Spirit Rite. His Piano Concerto was selected as a winner of The University of Southern California’s New Music for Orchestra. In 2010, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, studying piano with Benjamin Pasternack and composition with Tom Benjamin. He then continued on to The University of Southern California where he completed his Masters of Music in composition as a recipient of The Thornton School of Music Dean’s Scholarship. Thomas is currently a Doctorate of Music candidate at the University of Southern California where he studies with composers Donald Crockett and Stephen Hartke. As a proponent of new music, Thomas has premiered over 20 solo piano and chamber works, is the manager of USC Thornton Edge, USC's contemporary music ensemble, and has founded an online radio station  (www.KineticsRadio.com) dedicated to showcasing the music of contemporary concert composers.