Dr. William Bloomquist began his piano study at the age of 6. After graduating from high school, he continued his studies 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. For several years he had a full-time piano studio and pursued a concert career (primarily as a chamber musician), performing in many of the nation’s major concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Boston’s Jordan Hall, and New York City’s Merkin Hall. He won prizes in several competitions and was a competitor in the 1985 Van Cliburn Competition. He performed in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Spain, and Venezuela. The Washington Post has described his playing as sparkling,” “breathtaking,” and “demonstrating an exquisite sense of vocal phrasing.” The Post review of his solo 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.” In 1996 he felt a “call to ministry” and served as a full-time pastor for 27 years. In 2021 he transitioned to pastoring half-time as Pastor of Worship & Connections at Severna Park Baptist Church, which allowed him to once again devote focused time to the piano and rekindle his passion for sharing his love of the piano with others. In recent years he has had the opportunity to perform several times with the Naptown Philharmonic (formerly the Londontowne Symphony) in Annapolis, MD where he also served on the board for several years. Dr. Bloomquist was a finalist in the 2023/2024 WIPAC and semifinalist in the 2024 Boston International Piano Competition. He has been married to his wife Mary Ann for 43 years! They live in Riva, Maryland with their two cats and have a married daughter who is an actor in the DMV. In addition, he coaches varsity tennis at Annapolis Area Christian High School.