About.
I started playing classical piano when I was 6. In early adolescence I switched from playing classical to jazz, influenced by a hip cousin and a family friend who had a great jazz collection. For most of my life, I’ve played and performed jazz as much as a busy life as a physician, father, and husband permitted. I retired from my internal medicine practice at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation at the beginning of 2022. In retirement, I’m making music a bigger part of my life.
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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of studying with Charlie Mariano, Ray Santisi, Conrad Herwig, George Cables, Jeff Hamilton, Terrell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Geoffrey Keezer, Don Haas, Anton Schwartz, Smith Dobson, and Peter Horvath.
I perform in a variety of venues, both jazz and Brazilian repertoires, as a soloist and in small groups.
I believe in the healing power of music, and so I also perform for groups who can’t easily get to performance spaces-people confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and senior living centers. Some of this work is as a volunteer musician with the Bay Area's Bread and Roses.
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I also donate music to do good, by performing in support of organizations seeking to improve our communities or the world. I’ve undertaken fundraising concerts for:
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2nd Harvest
Vote Riders
Project JumpStart
3rd Act (focusing on climate change)
The Center for Reproductive Rights
Giffords (working on gun control)
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I've recorded 3 CDs of solo piano:
A Controlled Burn
Cabin in the Woods
Skipping Songs and Sentimental Journeys
Groups.
Vocal: voice and piano with Tamara Dunn. Bass can add a nice touch
Instrumental: trio, quartet, quintet including horn and trap set
Testimonials.
"I was thrilled to include the performance of "Save Your Love" by Drs. Terrigal Burn and Tamara Dunn in the Stanford Medicine Stuck@Home Concert at Stanford’s Bing Performance Hall. Dr. Burn on piano and Dr. Dunn on vocals is an impressive combination of musical talent. I have also attended other performances by Drs. Burn and Dunn, because I am a huge fan of their immense talent!"
Jacqueline Genovese MFA, MA (she/her)
Executive Director, Medical Humanities & Arts Program (Medicine & the Muse)
Stanford School of Medicine, Center for Biomedical Ethics
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"The Jazz duo with Terrigal Burn at the piano and singer, Tamara Dunn, have presented delightful programs for the residents of Channing House. Their jazz programs strike a familiar chord with our senior residents. As volunteer coordinator of music events at Channing House I enthusiastically recommend them to you."
Nancy Fiene
