Rate My Professor Tom McGrath

Tom McGrath is a Teaching Fellow in Piano Accompaniment at the School of Performing Arts, University of Otago, within the Humanities Division, having joined the staff in 2004. He holds a BMus (Hons) from the University of Canterbury, along with Musikreife qualifications in Piano, Musikreife Chamber Music, and Song Accompaniment from the Richard-Strauss-Konservatorium. His research expertise centers on solo piano, chamber music, and vocal accompaniment. In his teaching role, McGrath serves as accompanist for wind and brass students, providing individual sessions to develop a solid technical foundation and an individualized programme spanning musical styles from Baroque to contemporary genres.

McGrath has made significant contributions to music education and performance in New Zealand through diverse professional engagements. He acted as official accompanist for the New Zealand National Singing School in Hawkes Bay (2011), the Adam International Cello Festival in Christchurch (2009), and the Queenstown Violin Summer School (2004-2010). Additionally, he served as piano tutor and chamber music tutor at the Otago University Chamber Music Summer School (2008-2012), delivered piano masterclasses at the NZ Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMTNZ) National Conference in Dunedin (2011) and Southland IRMTNZ (2006), and adjudicated competitions including Dunedin Junior Instrumental Competitions (2006), Southland IRMT Scholarship (2006), Otago IRMT Scholarship (2011), and as a regional adjudicator for Chamber Music New Zealand National Contest (2013). An Associate Member of IRMTNZ, he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts, evidenced by his doctoral recital on 10 December 2024 featuring chamber music for piano and strings by Paul Schramm with Heleen du Plessis (cello) at Hanover Hall, Dunedin. Other recent performances include Music Programme Showcase: NZ Music Month Concert II (Philip Neil Memorial Concert, 22 May 2024) with Tessa Romano (mezzo-soprano), Tessa Petersen (violin), and Terence Dennis (piano) at Marama Hall; Fantasies, Romances and Songs (7 August 2024) with du Plessis; Colleagues in Collaboration: Embracing the Folk (25 September 2024); and Out of the Margins and into the Light (27 August 2025) with Romano and Dennis, all highlighting collaborative chamber works at Dunedin venues.