Title: Musician/Instructor
Office: Center for the Arts 220
Phone: 563-387-1265
E-mail: bourth01@luther.edu
Degree: M.M., Western Michigan University
Interests: Improvisation, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Theatre/Dance Composition and Accompaniment

As a professional musician Tom has performed throughout the United States, Europe, South America and the Caribbean, performing with and backing up musicians and acts such as the Dirty Dozen Band, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Schwall of the Siegal-Schwall Band, Buddy Rich, Donald O’Connor, comedian David Brenner, Debbie Reynolds, and Jack Jones.  From 1987-96 he led the Tom Bourcier Trio, and subsequently performed accordion with Bourcier, Julin, and Wolff.  The group released a CD, Live at St. Andrews, in 2000.  Tom also performs accordion with singer/songwriter Robin Lee Berry on Going Driftless, a 2002 Red House Records retrospective of Greg Brown songs performed by female artists. His first solo piano CD, Steps, was independently released in 2002.  Portals, a tango suite composed for movement theatre, will be released in 2011 on the independent label 2Moons Records. 

Tom received the Master of Music degree in composition from Western Michigan University.  He served as Music Director/Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance at the University of Illinois from 1991-96, and premiered 17 original compositions in Illinois Dance Theatre and Illinois Repertory Theatre productions.  His jazz chart In Walked Bo was recently recorded by the Composer’s Big Band in New York City.  In 2004, I Saw Elvis for alto saxophone and electric guitar, received its European premiere at the Royal Conservatory of Music in London. It will be published in 2008 by Media Press Inc. (Chicago). Tom recieved the award for Best Original Music Score at the 2010 Iowa Motion Picture Awards for his music in the film Rebirth, directed by Francesca Soans. 

At Luther College Tom teaches improvisation, jazz theory and arranging, supervises jazz combos, and directs the Jazz Band and Luther College Jazz Quintet. Tom also works on a freelance basis, and his 2008–10 schedule had him performing throughout the Midwest in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, as well as Puebla, Mexico, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Chicago, Milwaukee, and San Francisco. He resides in rural Decorah with his four sons

Sample Audio