Welcome to the website of composer/performer/teacher Tom Bickley!

Upcoming/recent performances, events, etc.


  • They Who Sound Monday Nights at Lawndale
    Gusty Winds May Exist, i.e., Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi and electronics, and Tom Bickley, recorder and electronics)
    Gusty Winds May Exist performs The River by Beckman, Bickley, and Heloise Gold, Two for T by Pauline Oliveros, Middle Armand Bayou by Bickley, and the first performance of Hibernian Cities, Hebridean Islands by Bickley. We're delighted to share the evening with Corey De'Juan Sherrard, Billion Tekleab and Courtland Webb.
    Nameless Sound They Who Sound Series, Lawndale Art and Performance Center, 4912 Main St., Houston, TX 77002
    by donation

  • Unseen Stream, and other pieces
    Jaime Robles, Nancy Beckman, Tom Bickley
    a 30-minute performance of the Jaime Robles' poem Unseen Stream, with text and video by Jaime Robles, music by Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi, melodica, double ocarina, Tom Bickley, EWI, electronics, voice, and Jaime Robles, voice percussion, preceded by other pieces.
    The Tiger Garage, Berkeley, CA 94703
    by donation

  • End of Year Festival at Tom's Place: Gachapon Quartet
    Gachapon (Dean Santomieri, Cindy Webster, Nancy Beckman, & Tom Bickley)
    we have Gachopon which is an improvisational quartet featuring Nancy Beckman, Cindy Webster, Tom Bickley and Dean Santomieri; playing a variety of instruments including: shakuhachi, lyre, EWI (electronic wind instrument), bowed, amplified saw, hurdy-gurdy, taishogoto, guitar, percussion and voice.
    Oakland Freedom Jazz Society, Tom's Place, 3111 Deakin St., Berkeley, CA 94705
    by donation

  • Three Trapped Tigers Recorder Duo Presents: Along the Milky Way, Pre-Modern Music for Post-Modern Ears and vice versa
    Three Trapped Tigers Recorder Duo (David Barnett & Tom Bickley)
    Immerse yourself in a program that bridges centuries of music, featuring works by iconic composers including Pauline Oliveros, Harrison Birtwhistle, Ryohei Hirose, and Johannes Ciconia. The duo’s exceptional skill and deep understanding of both historical and contemporary music will create a rich tapestry of sound, inviting listeners to explore the connections between the past and present. Email tbickley@gmail.com for reservations and location information.
    The Tiger Garage, a private studio near Ashby BART, Berkeley, CA 94703
    Suggested Donation $20 No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Masks strongly encouraged. Venue is accessible; no public nor accessible restrooms.

  • San Francisco Recorder Society September Playing Session
    Tom Bickley, conductor for this session
    The topic is Canons. These are familiar to us via Row Row Row Your Boat, etc., and have a great deal more nuance and complexity than those simple rounds we know from childhood. We'll begin with Exploring Canons to experience ways of folding melodies back onto themselves in various ways, then enjoy examples from late Medieval times, as well as one of my own canonic transformations of the Browning tune, and William Cornysh's Ah Robin.
    San Francisco Recorder Society Monthly Meetings, Christ Church Lutheran, 1090 Quintara Street, San Francisco, CA 94116
    Free for first time participants, memberships available ($15 per session or $75 annual)

  • Along the Milky Way, Post Modern Music for Pre Modern Ears and Vice Versa
    Three Trapped Tigers Recorder Duo (David Barnett & Tom Bickley)
    Our program will include a variety of entertaining, challenging and beautiful music (sometimes all in one piece! ;-) ) by Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016), Harrison Birtwhistle (1934-2022), Johannes Ciconia (1370-1412), myself (1954-), and others.
    California State University East Bay Music Recital Hall, MB 1055, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542
    Free and open to the public

  • Skronkathon performance by Gachapon with Dancer Christina Braun
    Gachapon Trio (Cindy Webster, Dean Santomieri, and Tom Bickley) with dancer Christina Braun
    Gachapon: in our trio version with Cindy Webster, Tom Bickley, and Dean Santomieri; playing bowed, amplified saw, EWI (electronic wind instrument), and guitar; collaborating, for this performance, with dancer Christina Braun. A Gachapon is a Japanese vending machine that dispenses small toys in capsules.
    Dresher Ensemble Studio, 2201 Poplar Street, Oakland, CA 94607
    $10-15 suggested donation

  • Gachapon with Dancer Christina Braun
    Gachapon Quartet (Cindy Webster, Dean Santomieri, Nancy Beckman, and Tom Bickley)
    Gachapon: A quartet featuring Nancy Beckman, Cindy Webster, Tom Bickley, and Dean Santomieri; playing a variety of instruments including: shakuhachi, lyre, EWI (electronic wind instrument), bowed, amplified saw, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, taishogoto, percussion and voice; collaborating, for this performance, with dancer Christina Braun. A Gachapon is a Japanese vending machine that dispenses small toys in capsules.
    Center for New Music, 55 Taylor St., San Francisco, CA 94102
    $15 General, $10 Members & Students

  • Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
    Hosts Nancy Beckman and Tom Bickley
    Register for the Bayside garden tours and visit our garden (among others) that feature mostly native California plants. At 11, 1, & 3 o'clock Tom will perform selections from the Bird Fancyer's Delight and other works. At noon Nancy will give a short talk titled, The Only Constant is Change. Representatives from Electrify My Home will be present to provide information about the heat pump systems in place.
    Nancy's Garden in south Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94703
    free; registration required for address information

  • C is for Community: all conference performance of Terry Riley's In C
    Facilitators Melissa Wertheimer and Tom Bickley
    Evening session for the national meeting of the Music Library Association: participatory performance of In C. Session sponsored by the Contemporary Music Interest Group, Tom Bickley, convener.
    Music Library Association National Meeting, Cinncinati, OH 45202
    by conference registration

  • Deep Listening and Qi Gong Workshop with Tom Bickley, Michael Reiley, and Monica Gentile
    Facilitators Tom Bickley, Michael Reiley, and Monica Gentile
    Center for Deep Listening facilitators Tom Bickley and Michael Reiley join with dancer/Qi Gong teacher Monica Gentile to guide you in Deep Listening practices of movement, listening/sounding, and dreaming via scores by Pauline Oliveros, IONE, and Heloise Gold. Please bring a lunch for yourself and wear comfortable clothes. Register by donating. Location provided upon registration. Email any questions to tbickley@gmail.com
    The Tiger Garage, a private studio near Ashby BART, Berkeley, CA 94703
    by donation, what is genuinely affordable for you, via paypal tbickley@gmail.com or venmo @Thomas-Bickley-1

  • Music Companion to the Framework for Information Literacy now available online
    Public Services Committee Instruction Subcommittee Framework Working Group of the Music Library Association
    This document is a companion work to support application of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education to all aspects of learning in music. It is a result of extensive work from 2017 forward by Andrea L. Beckendorf, Tom Bickley, Erin Conor, Anna Grau Schmidt, Angela L. Pratesi, Veronica A. Wells and others.
    MLA White Papers and Online Publications, Music Library Associaion, 8401 Greenway Blvd, Suite 100, Middleton, WI 53562
    free online publication

  • Gachapon Quartet with Dancer Christina Braun
    Gachapon is Nancy Beckman, Tom Bickley, Cindy Webster, Dean Santomieri all playing various instruments including shakuhachi, EWI, saw, hurdy-gurdy, taishogoto, and guitar
    Debut performance of a new experimental music quartet using the Gray Code from Bell Labs as a structure for improvisation. Sharing the evening will be Dorothea Schurch, from Switzerland.
    Mosswood Sound Series, Mosswood Chapel, 3630 Telegraph Av, Oakland, CA 94609
    $10.00 to $25.00 sliding scale cash and venmo accepted at door.

  • CD Jepson Prairie: field-recording based compositions by Tom Bickley to be released Friday October 6, 2023 on Other Minds Records
    Tom Bickley, composer/performer
    Six works focused on field recordings will be releases in Fall 2023 by Other Minds Records as OM 1038-2.
    Other Minds Records, released on CD and via streaming services
    $15.00 for the CD, Download $7.00

  • Kokko Wellness Benefit for Maui
    Gusty Winds May Exist Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi & Tom Bickley, recorder
    Enjoy a 20-minute set of traditional shakuhachi music, Tom Bickley's Repose for solo recorder, improvisations for recorder and shakuhachi. We're honored to be invited to support this worthy effort. And, John Kokko and company are superb health professionals.
    Kokko Wellness, 3280 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703
    Sold out but donations to support the Maui Strong community fund welcome. Please contact Kokko Wellness for details.

  • Shakuhachi/Recorder/EWI
    Gusty Winds May Exist Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi & Tom Bickley, recorder & EWI
    Enjoy a 30-minute set of traditional shakuhachi music, improvisations for recorder, shakuhachi, and EWI, Pauline Oliveros' In Consideration of the Earth. We're delighted to share the evening with Aryn Ward and Ivette Roman-Roberto, flute and voice. We'll conclude the evening with a free improv quartet.
    They, Who Sound, Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Stree, Houston, TX 77002
    Free and open to the public; Donations welcome.

  • Wind, Water, Birds
    Gusty Winds May Exist Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi & Tom Bickley, recorders
    Please join us for solos from the traditional Japanese Myoan Shakuhachi repertory and the early European recorder repertory that evoke images of the natural world, birdsong, waterfalls, and the wind. Improvised duos and solos respond to those pieces and to the environment. We approach this as a meditative offering for a summer evening at sunset.
    Alternating Currents The Albany Bulb Event Series, The Cove at the Albany Bulb, 1 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94706
    Free and open to the public; seating is limited, so please register using the link to Eventbrite on the Alternating Currents site for this performance.

  • Hommage to Guido d'Arezzo
    Tom Bickley, composer/performer
    Three new compositions begun on 24 June 2023 (the Feast of St. John the Baptist), honoring 11th c. music theorist and Camaldolese Benedictine monk Guido d'Arezzo. Each piece supports a different mode of meditation. I hope you enjoy them!
    Bandcamp, Berkeley, CA 94703
    Free to stream, downloads available $12 for the album, individual tracks may be purchased for download as well.

  • Garden of Memory
    The Cornelius Cardew Choir, Tom Bickley, director, with audience participation
    The Cardew Choir returns to this annual event. This evening we invite you to join us in performing two scores by Pauline Oliveros: The Heart Chant alternating with The Rock Piece. We'll have a sunset bell ringing courtesy of Brenda Hutchinson at 8:34 pm.
    Bay Area New Music, The Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA 94611
    $20.00 reduced prices for children, students, and seniors; online sales only, no tickets at the door;

  • Film: Deep Listening: the story of Pauline Oliveros: Oakland premiere
    Daniel Weintraub, IONE, Amy Reed, Jennifer Wilsey, Tom Bickley, Matt Robidoux, Jacob Felix Heule
    Bay Area premiere showings of Daniel Weintraub's remarkable documentary film about Pauline Oliveros. Details of these two showings (Friday night and Saturday afternoon) to be finalized soon.
    Shapeshifters Cinema, 567 5th St., Oakland, CA 94607
    $15;

  • Resistance and Resilience: a community celebration of music and improvisation
    Andrew Barnes Jamieson, Charles Peoples III, and friends (including Tom Bickley)
    A joyful evening of music rooted in the traditions of the African American church and inclusive community.
    Mosswood Chapel, 3630 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
    $10-20 sliding scale;

  • Restored!
    The Barbary Coast Recorder Orchestra, Tom Bickley guest conductor, Glen Shannon & Greta Haug-Hryciw, directors
    Onstage for the first time in three years with moving, surprising, even thrilling, selections by Beethoven, Delius, Eccles, de Victoria, Goode, Machaut, Mozart, and Nott.
    The Barbary Coast Recorder Ochestra Annual Performances, First Congregational Church Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94707
    Donations welcome, not required;

  • Three Trapped Tigers at Happyland Salon!
    Three Trapped Tigers David Barnett & Tom Bickley, recorders
    Three Trapped Tigers Recorder Duo present a program of pre-modern music for post-modern ears and vice versa. You’ll hear an unusual flow of 14th-century pieces from the pilgrimage to Montserrat, Stockhausen’s Japan, Oliveros’ In Consideration of the Earth, Hoddinut's Lizard, Baldwin’s Duo, Bickley’s Browning Canons, Caldini’s Ambos Duo, and improvisations.
    Happyland Salon, Happyland Salon, 22353 Happyland Av, Hayward, CA 94541
    Donations welcome, not required;

  • New compositions available for listening and purchase on Bandcamp
    Tom Bickley, composer/performer
    Three of my recent electronic music compositions, Hillview Road, Los Angeles Structure, Part 2, and Eubllience (Winter Solstice to Epiphany) and now available on my Bandcamp site. Older works available there also, and more music coming soon!
    Bandcamp, Berkeley
    Listen for free, purchase to download

  • Music for the Winter Solstice
    Three Trapped Tigers David Barnett & Tom Bickley, recorders
    This duo spans the centuries by placing 14th century music in conversation with newly composed works and improvisations. They explore the sonic possibilities of the recorder, ranging from its simple traditional sound to enthusiastic use of extended techniques, including multiphonics, microtones and timbral variations. We encourage you to arrive by 8 pm to enjoy the opening set by NBOKS.
    LSG New Music Series, Luggage Store Gallery, 1007 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
    $10-$20, sliding scale;

  • PechaKucha Night: Tom presents Instances, Dreams, Aging, and the Impact of Change
    Tom Bickley, and others
    As part of Robyn Thomas' CCC residency, this is an evening of short talks on the theme Instances and the impact of change. Please follow the link to register to attend via Zoom or in person. The event is at 3 pm PST/6 pm EST.
    Center for Connection + Collaboration, Zoom + The Studio (at the CCC), 65 Coleman Ave, Ashville, NC 28801
    by donation

  • It's All Still Going On Out There
    Three Trapped Tigers David Barnett & Tom Bickley, recorders
    Using modern, renaissance, and medieval recorders, this duo performs Landini, renaissance and contemporary bicinia, Oliveros, Bryars, Tippett, LeFanu, Sansom, and Pevernage. NB: All audience members must be properly masked with KN94 or better facemasks.
    2022 Berkeley Festival & Exhibition Fringe, St. Joseph of Arimathea Chapel, 2543 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
    $15-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds

  • Two New music/video pieces in the Showcase
    recent compositions/video works by Tom Bickley and collaborators
    Two music video pieces from spring 2022 have just been added to the Showcase section of this website. I hope you enjoy them!
    The Tiger Garage Showcase section, in the Showcase tab

  • Doug Van Nort Electro-Acoustic Orchestra and Elka Bong
    Tom Bickley, Viv Corringham, Björn Eriksson, Rory Hoy, Kieran Maraj, Omar Shabbar, Daniel Sheahan, Doug Van Nort
    Electro-acoustic ensemble with composition and sound-painting by Doug Van Nort
    DisPerSion Lab, Zoom, archived via YouTube link (click on the title for this event), The Internet
    free

  • The One-Sample Ensemble
    Tom Bickley, Lo Bil, Faadhi Fauzhi, Biagio Blaise Francia, Fae Sirois, Doug Van Nort
    Each person contributes one 1-10 second sample, and the group uses this to weave a new improvised electroacoustic piece from the source material using their own idiosyncratic digital instrumentation.
    Dispersion Relation X, Zoom, archived via Facebook link (below), The Internet
    free

  • Winter Solstice Performance of sound and poetry, more details tba
    Nancy Beckman, shakuhachi and voice; Tom Bickley, recorders, voice and electronics; Ronnie Yates, guitar, voice, poetry
    tbd, Houston, TX
    cost tbd (affordable)

  • Ensemble and Trio Movement and Sound Improvisation
    Takami Craddock, choreography & dance, with her students, and Nancy Beckman and Tom Bickley, live music (melodicas, soundscapes, shakuhachi, recorder)
    Live music with dance to celebrate the opening of Takami Craddock's new studio space
    Opening Celebration of new Mobu Dance Studio, Mobu Dance Studio (new space), 1414 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
    free

  • CCI - TOWARDS A SOLIDARITY ECONOMICS CONDUCTION SYSTEM FOR IMPROVISERS
    Workshop ensemble assembled and guided by Marshall Trammell
    Center for Cultural Innovation and Pro Arts Commons, Pro Arts Gallery & COMMONS, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612
    free with RSVP

  • 10,000 Steps
    Participatory Performance, guided by the CSU East Bay Theatre & Dance Dept. faculty, Eric Kupers
    Nancy Beckman and Tom Bickley will be joining this performance and hope you will, too. Instructions and rehearsal from 10 AM.
    Autumnal Equinox Meditative Movement, California State University East Bay Library Courtyard, 25800 Carlos Bee Bl, Hayward, CA 94542
    Free and open to the public

  • Ambient Bird 433
    Frog Pond 433 Ensemble, including Tom Bickley (recorder and EWI) and Nancy Beckman (shakuhachi)
    We're excited to perform in this work by our friend and colleague Wendy Reid and her African Gray parrot Lulu.
    Pro Arts Gallery, The Forum at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612
    Eventbrite lists $10, but it is audible through the public space

  • 万音 ("man-on"= all sounds) algorithmic composition to accompany dance score by Eric Kupers titled "Equinox - emergence of joy"
    Tom Bickley, electronics with interwoven collaboration by dancers and other musicians
    multi-layered, distributed performance at venues in the SF Bay Area, southern California, NYC, Barcelona, and Sollefeteå, Sweden.
    Equinox - Emergence of Joy, international observance in honor of the Ghost Ship Fire victims, California State University East Bay Theater, lobby and courtyard, 25800 Carlos Bee Bl, Hayward, CA 94542
    free

  • four musicians, an actor, and a poet
    TG Sextet: Gael Alcock, Nancy Beckman, Tom Bickley, John Givens, Earll Kingston, Bonnie Kwong
    poetry reading with music, in an intimate performance space. Limited seating; to reserve a space, email tbickley@gmail.com Free admission; Location provided upon confirmation; This event is four blocks from Ashby BART; venue is accessible; unfortunately restrooms there are not.
    The Tiger Garage, email tbickley@gmail.com for details, Berkeley, CA 94703
    free

  • Three Trapped Tigers at Trinity Chamber Concerts
    Three Trapped Tigers (duo version: David Barnett and Tom Bickley)
    For the new year: pre-modern music for post-modern ears and and vice versa
    Trinity Chamber Concerts, Trinity Chapel, 2030 Dana St., Berkeley, CA 94703
    $20 gen.;$15 sen/disabled/student; no one turned away for lack of funds

  • Sonic Meditations
    San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and The Cornelius Cardew Choir
    SFCMP performs a sonic meditation by Pauline Oliveros followed by Cardew’s The Great Learning, Paragraph 7 with guests The Cornelius Cardew Choir and audience members
    SFCMP in the Community, The Women’s Building, 3543 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94110
    free

  • Anne Brodsky Memorial Concert
    The Cornelius Cardew Choir and Meridian Music Curators
    honoring the memory of Meridian Gallery’s founder
    San Francisco Friends Meeting House, 65 9th St., San Francisco, CA 94103
    free

  • CD release of two versions of Bickley’s Repose
    Ewald Henseler, Günther Höller, Yoshie Tokimitsu, Mayumi Ohtsu, Hana Miura
    Ewald Henseler and colleagues released a CD of new music for recorders, including Tom Bickley’s work Repose in two versions for two renaissance recorders in g. Details forthcoming.
    Music for the Recorder vol. 2, Tokyo, Japan

  • GUST Ghazals for the Ghost Ship
    artists honoring the Ghost Ship victims
    Poems read and sung by Tom Bickley and Nancy Beckman with many other collaborators
    The Milk Bar, 241 A 2nd St., Richmond, CA 94804
    free

  • Remembering Pauline Oliveros
    The Deep Listening Community
    Tom Bickley and Andrew Jamieson lead this event with Deep Listening meditations and Oliveros’ Four Meditations for Orchestra
    All Ears Interfaith Sangha, Temescal Art Center, 511 48th St., Oakland, CA 94609
    free, donations welcome, please bring food to share

  • Headlights, Uptown Ensemble, Ero Guro
    The Uptown Ensemble
    Li Harris -theremini and voice, Amy Reed -guitar, Biggie Vinkaloe -alto sax, Gabby Fluke-Mogul -violin, Tom Bickley -EWI
    Active Music Series, The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 94612
    $5-$15 sliding scale

  • Autumn, an immersive soundscape composed by Rae Diamond
    The Long Tone Choir
    Tom Bickley and Nancy Beckman perform with this small vocal ensemble
    HUSH SERIES, Center for New Music, 55 Taylor St., San Francisco, CA 94102
    $15 General, $10 Members

  • Live radio performance of a Sonic Collage by Cilla Vee and Tom Bickley
    Cilla Vee (voice and electronics) and Tom Bickley (electronics)
    performing a sonic collage using shortwave radio samples, spoken word, song and instrumental music
    Discreet Music on KPFA.org (the last broadcast), KPFA FM, email tbickley@gmail.com for details, Berkeley, CA
    free

  • Listening Sounding Moving Being
    Cilla Vee/Claire Elizabeth Barrett (movement and voice), Karen Stackpole (percussion), Nancy Beckman (shakuhachi), Tom Bickley (recorder and electronics)
    *RESERVATIONS REQUIRED* (capacity 15) Location provided when you reserve. Visiting artist Cilla Vee/Claire Elizabeth Barrett joins Karen Stackpole (percussion), Nancy Beckman (shakuhachi), and Tom Bickley (recorder and electronics) for a performance of experimental music and dance. Door opens at 7:00 pm.
    house concert, The Tiger Garage, email tbickley@gmail.com for details, Berkeley, CA 94703
    $5-$15 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)

  • Three Trapped Tigers' Birthday Performance
    Three Trapped Tigers (duo version: David Barnett and Tom Bickley)
    Door opens at 6:30 pm.
    house concert, The Tiger Garage, email tbickley@gmail.com for details, Berkeley, CA 94703
    by donation

  • Reflections of a Deep Listening Retreat
    Heloise Gold, Viv Corringham, Nancy Beckman and Tom Bickley
    Door opens at 6:45 pm.
    house concert, The Tiger Garage, email tbickley@gmail.com for details, Berkeley, CA 94703
    free

  • The American Recorder Society Recorder Relay
    Three Trapped Tigers (duo version: David Barnett and Tom Bickley)
    We're on at 9:45 performing Ryohei Hirose's remarkable work, Aki (アキ=autumn).
    Berkeley Festival 2018 Fringe, Trinity Chapel, 2030 Dana St, Berkeley, CA 94704
    Suggested donation: $15

  • Looped Local Roads
    Three Trapped Tigers (David Barnett and Tom Bickley with guest tiger Greta Hryciw)
    including a performance of the rarely heard Serenade for Three Recorders (1943) by Lou Harrison.
    Berkeley Festival 2018 Fringe, Trinity Chapel, 2030 Dana St, Berkeley, CA 94704
    Suggested donation: $20, no one turned away for lack of funds

  • Harmony Out of Chaos
    Barbary Coast Recorder Orchestra
    Tom Bickley guest conductor for Bells by Roy Sansom and You Cannot Have a Crowd without a Kitten by Tom Bickley.
    Berkeley Festival 2018 Fringe, First Presbyterian Church, 2047 Dana St, Berkeley, CA 94704
    Suggested donation: $15