Biography
Bruce Stark’s music reflects the varied elements of his musical upbringing. He grew up in Lakeside, California where he began with drums and percussion, migrated to jazz piano, and while in college dropped out of the physics program and began formal studies in classical music, going on to complete a masters degree in composition at the Juilliard School. After graduation he moved to Tokyo where he resided for over 20 years making a living as arranger and jazz pianist, all the while producing a collection of works that reveal a compelling musical voice. In 2013 he returned to the U.S. and joined the music faculty of DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington.
From solo piano to chamber and orchestral works, Stark’s music has been performed on the concert stages of four continents and recorded on numerous CDs. His Sonata for Piano was awarded Honorable Mention by the Music Teachers National Association in the Distinguished Composer of the Year competition, and he was winner of the South Texas Brass Symposium Competition for Adagio and Allegro for horn, trombone and piano. Other awards include First Prize in the Composers Guild Contest, Second Prize in the Barlow International Competition, and ASCAP composer awards.
His compositions have been featured in the National Flute Association Convention, American Piano Festival, International Trombone Festival, Canberra International Chamber Music Festival and MasterWorks Festival. Performances have included the Baton Rouge and Lansing symphonies, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Jakarta Symphony, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Beaverton Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Rapides Symphony, numerous pianists and other musicians including trombonists Megumi Kanda and Don Lucas who have commissioned and championed multiple new works.
News
2025 Highlights
In March 2025, Navona Records (PARMA) released Vibrant, an album of Bruce Stark's piano works performed by Indonesian pianist Isabella Jie. The recording includes Toccata (2024), Colors of Peace (2023), Sonata for Piano (2018) and Six Dances for Piano (2009)
On January 10, 2025 the Portland Youth Philharmonic under David Hattner with piano soloist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner gave the world premiere of Mischief Dance for piano and string orchestra (commissioned for the occasion). They performed it again on January 12 at Willamette University at Hudson Hall.
January 14, 2025, William Underwood III led a performance of Stark’s arrangement of Amazing Grace for flute and piano at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco at an MLK Tribute Concert.
January 18, 2025 Eunsong Kim performed Nocturne for Left Hand Piano at University of Oklahoma at a symposium held by the Music Teachers National Association
On February 2, 2025 10º Trio performed Suite for Horn, Trombone and Piano in Auer Hall of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music
On February 6, 2025 10º Trio performed Suite for Horn, Trombone and Piano at Western Illinois University
February 8, 2025, pianist Eunsong Grace Kim performed Stark’s Nocturne for Left Hand Piano at Maple Hall in Mino, Osaka, Japan, in the Semi-Final round of the Paul Wittgenstein Memorial International Piano Competition. She won 3rd place in the final round and the Audience Award for her performance.
February 9, 2025, pianist Nariaki Sugiura performed To the Late Night and Blues from Stark’s left hand piano collection If Stars Could Speak at Maple Hall in Mino, Osaka, Japan in the Paul Wittgenstein Memorial International Piano Competition.
Duo Cantabile (Simona Barbu, cello and Nariaki Sugiura, piano) are championing Bruce Stark’s Suite for Cello and Piano in many concerts in 2025, including:
February 11: Ora-machi Central Community Center in Ora, Gunma, Japan
February 15: Shikano Kura in Kanuma, Tochigi, Japan
February 16: Kanuma Praise Church in Kanuma, Tochigi, Japan
February 22: One Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea
February 23: One Art Hall in Incheon, South Korea
March 20: Yucatan University of Arts in Merida, Mexico
April 27: Wilhem-Hack Museum in Mannheim, Germany
April 28: Mannheim University of Arts in Mannheim, Germany
May 22: Palazzo Taffini in Savigliano, Italy
May 24, 2025: Liceului de Artă “Ion Vidu” - Timișoara, Romania
“22nd Alma Cornea Ionescu International Festival and Piano Competition”
June 2, 2025: La Sinagogă - Bistrița, Romania
June 11, 2025: Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church - Greencastle, IN
“Greencastle Summer Music Festival”
June 15, 2025: Eunhye Korean Presbyterian Church - Indianapolis, IN
June 16, 2025: Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church - Warsaw, IN
September 19: Cello Festival of Southern Utah, Utah Tech University in St. George, UT
late October: Guest Recital at International Cello Festival in Winnipeg, Canada
February 11, 2025, bass trombonist Jonathan Warburton performed Harbinger for bass trombone and piano at Belmont University in Nashville
February 26 Pianist Eunsong Kim performed Nocturne for Left Hand Piano as part of her Artist Diploma recital at Ball State University.
February 27, 2025, William Underwood III led a performance of Stark’s arrangement of Amazing Grace at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco at a Noontime Concert
On June 20, 2025 Stark’s Suite for Horn, Trombone and Piano was performed by students participating in the Naples Philharmonic chamber music summer camp.
On June 29, 2025 OnDream Ensemble (Hyemin Choi, horn, Jongbin Park, trombone, Inho Gi, piano) performed Suite for Horn, Trombone and Piano at Merkin Hall in New York City
On September 23, 2025 pianist Chika Nagisa will perform Variations on "Ode to Joy" at Tokyo College of Music in a faculty showcase concert
On December 26, 2025 the Portland Youth Philharmonic will give the world premiere of Stark's Popcorn Fantasia as part of its "Popcorn Solstice" concert, a celebration of cinematic music, in Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, Oregon
