Dr. William Bloomquist, Riva, MD, has served as a pastor for 30 years. In 1996 he entered the ministry full-time and is currently the Pastor of Worship & Connections at Severna Park Baptist Church. In 2021 he transitioned to pastoring half-time which allowed him time to devote himself to the piano once again. He began his piano studies at the age of six in Arizona and earned piano degrees from U of MD (BM, MM) and U of TX (DMA). His primary teachers were Audrey Brown, Thomas Schumacher, and Nancy Garrett.

Before entering the ministry, he performed in many of the nation’s major concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Boston’s Jordan Hall, and New York City’s Merkin Hall. His international touring as a chamber musician included Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and Venezuela. The Washington Post described his playing as “sparkling,” “breathtaking,” and “demonstrating an exquisite sense of vocal phrasing.” The Post review of his recital at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. mentioned his “deft musicianship and enormous technical prowess… resulted in a cheering standing ovation.” He was a competitor in the 1985 Van Cliburn Competition.

In the past few years, he began exploring the world of amateur piano competitions and was a finalist in the WIPAC in 2023 and 2024, and a semifinalist in Boston in 2024. He has performed several concertos with the Naptown Philharmonic. He plays tennis several times a week and coaches varsity tennis at Annapolis Area Christian High School. He has been married to his wife Mary Ann for 42 years and has one adult daughter and two very spoiled cats.