Talman Welle. Professor of Music.

Pianist Talman Welle began his piano study with his mother, the late Martha Thatcher of Bremerton. He graduated magna cum laude from Central Washington University where he received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano performance. His principal teachers were Tim Strong, Dr. John Salmon, and Dr. Bonalyn Bricker-Smith. Since 1988, Welle has taught piano and classical piano at Olympic College, Bremerton and maintains a large successful studio of private students in Seattle, Bremerton, Silverdale and Poulsbo.

An active member of the Kitsap and Seattle chapters of the Washington State Music Teachers Association, he has also chaired for the National guild of Piano Teachers for Kitsap County and is a judge. Many of his students have won scholarships and awards, gone on to major in music at college, or become professional musicians.

As a professional pianist, Welle’s past performances have included Beethoven’s Concerto No. 4 in G Major, with the Bainbridge Orchestra, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Bremerton Symphony and Olympic College orchestras, solo recitals of Liszt and Debussy, and two-piano concerts with Martha Thatcher. He has also recorded two CD’s, in association with Dave Schafer Studios Bremerton. In the fall of 2001, Welle gave a well-received concert tour of the state, which included concerts at Central Washington University, Washington State University, and the Seattle Art Museum.

In 2009, Welle performed in concert with his colleague composer and bassist Rick White at Olympic College. The pair performed original compositions by White which also featured a solo performance by Welle of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1, Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, and Chopin's 4th Ballade in F minor, op. 52. In April 2010, Welle performed a solo concert at Sherman Clay Pianos in Seattle featuring Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. 

In November of 2010, Talman and fellow Seattle pianist, Ann Cummings performed a well received contemporary music program in a series of concerts around Puget Sound. Welle performed Villa-Lobos' notoriously difficult masterpiece, Rudepoema (1921-26) and a duet with Ann Cummings featuring Ligeti's Five Pieces. In 2011, Talman recorded and released a CD of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, which is available for digital purchase. In 2012, Talman recorded a new work, Piano Sonata, by Bellevue composer, Daniel Carr. Currently, Mr. Carr is writing a piano solo piece for Talman to premiere and record in 2014.

This April, Talman celebrated his 25th Anniversary of teaching piano at Olympic College in Bremerton and will be perfprmed a concert series which featured the music of George Gershwin. Talman performed four Gershwin songs accompanied by soprano, Michelle Abad. Songs performed included: Our Love is Here to Stay (1938), The Man I love (1924), Nice Work If You Can Get It (1937) and Summertime (1935). Talmal also performed a solo rendition of I’ve Got Rhythm (1930). The program highlighted the brilliant Grace Castagnetta 1946, piano solo transcription of the Gershwin Piano Concerto in F (1925). This piece is rarely performed as a piano solo. Talman also performed a series of concerts on April 11, 14 and 21st, 2013..The final concert was held at the Historic Admiral Theater in Bremerton will also feature Welle performing Rhapsody in Blue with the Olympic College Wind Ensemble. 

On March 13, 2016 at 4 p.m., Talman performed at Stage 7 Pianos in Kirkland, WA and on March 26, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Steinway Gallery in downtown Seattle.  On the program was Schumann's "Carnaval," op. 9,  and a set of pieces by Cyril Scott including a rare and uncataloged work, "Introduction and Fugue."   Please see "Events" page.