Tom Bopp

     Tom Bopp has entertained and educated Yosemite’s guests at the Wawona Hotel and The Ahwahnee since 1983. His interest in Yosemite’s cultural history led him to develop interpretive events and programs over two decades (for the Yosemite National Park Centennial in 1990, the Camp Curry Centennial in 1999, The Ahwahnee 75th Anniversary in 2002), and most recently a film documentary called Vintage Songs of Yosemite.

(Photo by K. Walklet)		      Born in southern California (1957) and raised in Torrance, Tom studied classical piano for 10 years and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA in Music Theory & Composition.

    Tom’s repertoire is an eclectic but by no means comprehensive mélange, representing his shifting tastes in music, or as he puts it, a short attention-span.

     Whether he’s performing cabaret songs, antique salon music, cowboy ditties, leftovers from long-ago classical piano lessons, Depression-era tunes, or ragtime, spontaneity is the thing Tom likes best.
    In April, 2005 Tom provided the entertainment for a small dinner party that included Vice President and Mrs. Cheney. (Tom wishes to point out that respect for the office does not imply an endorsement of policy).

     In January, 2006 Tom was honored by his employer, Delaware North Corporations, with the newly created Legacy Award of Service Excellence. Out of some 40,000 worldwide associates, only seven received the award -- one for each of DNC's seven divisions -- of which Tom represents Parks & Resorts. The award was presented at DNC's Spirit Of Vision Awards Gala in Orlando.

     On December 17, 2008, Tom was awarded the annual Yosemite Fund Award "in recognition of the significant effort he has made to enhance the value of Yosemite National Park as a national treasure."



Tom being presented his award by DNC Group
President of Hospitality and Entertainment, Dennis Szefel in 2006.



     Tom’s eclectic tastes are represented on five CDs available on the internet at YosemiteMusic.com. His first movie, "Vintage Songs Of Yosemite - The DVD" is based on his multi-media performances by the same title, presenting the first century of the Yosemite Experience through vintage music, stories, art, photography, and the only complete iteration of the Fire Fall on film. In addition to nightly performances at the Wawona Hotel, Tom performs winters at Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.