Karl Tricomi was born in Philadelphia and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School during which time he served as Organist of Queen of Heaven Roman Catholic Church, and accompanist to professional singers in the Delaware Valley He w.as later appointed Organist of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Camden, NJ where he also served as Assistant Choir Director and composed music for the Choir.

Upon graduation from Bishop Eustace, Karl entered the Eastman School of Music as a scholarship student in piano, organ, and composition. While at Eastman, on the basis of his prodigious sight-reading ability and skill at improvisation, he served as staff accompanist for its voice and instrumental faculty, and performed in concert with many solo instrumentalists and chamber ensembles in the NY State area. These performers include Dr. Frank Kowalsky, Clarinettist, Stephen Paulsen, Bassoonist, and Grayson Hirst, Tenor.

While attending Eastman, Karl Tricomi saw a number of his works premiered: The Piano Variations, Sonatina for Clarinet and Bassoon, Poems for Viola and Piano, Nocturnes for Piano, Trio for Clarinet,'Cello, and Piano, and numerous songs. His teachers at Eastman included Burrill Phillips and Samuel Adler for composition, Earl Wild, Eugene List, and Jose Echaniz for piano, and David Craighead in organ.

Karl Tricomi entered the Juilliard School as a graduate student in piano and studied with pianist Katherine Bacon and composer Hugh Aitken. While attending Juilliard Karl became the accompanist and coach for students of famed clarinet professor Leon Russiaoff, a post he held for several years. During this time he also played recitals at colleges and universities in the New York area.

For several years he was on the music faculty of the Riverdale Country Day School in Riverdale, NY, where he was private instructor in piano and taught theory and music appreciation. Among his students at Riverdale was jazz pianist Lee Curreri who was later to achieve national recognition as Bruno in the movie and TV series, "Fame"

In 1973 Karl Tricomi was commissioned by Duo-Pianists Toni and Rosi Grunschlag for a 2-piano bravura work entitled "Episodes" which was premiered in NY on the 92nd St."Y" Concert Series and which has been recorded on the Centaur Label. 1974 saw the premiere of his 1st Clarinet Sonata at Catholic University in Washington DC, performed by Dr. Frank Kowalsky, and the first performance of his operetta for children "Rainbow Junction" which received subsequent performances at New York's Town Hall and on CBS TV.

His performance career continued with recitals at Carnegie Recital Hall, and on WNBC and WQXR Radio in New York where he performed as solo artist and accompanist. Ann Owen performed the NY Premiere of his Second Clarinet Sonata on WQXR Radio in 1975, and in 1976 Karl performed a recital of piano music by his teacher and well-known composer, Richard Lane, whose complete works have been published in Europe.

For several years he was on the music faculty of the Riverdale Country Day School on Riverdale, NY, where he was private instructor in piano and taught theory and music appreciation. One of his students at Riverdale was jazz pianist Lee Curreri who was later to achieve national recognition as Bruno in the movie and TV series, "Fame"

In 1973 Karl Tricomi was commissioned by Duo-Pianists Toni and Rosi Grunschlag for a 2-piano bravura work entitled "Episodes" which was premiered in NY on the 92nd St."Y" Concert Series and which has been recorded on the Centaur Label. 1974 saw the premiere of his 1st Clarinet Sonata at Catholic University in Washington DC, performed by Dr. Frank Kowalsky, and the first performance of his operetta for children "Rainbow Junction" which received subsequent performances at New York's Town Hall and on CBS TV.

His performance career continued with recitals at Carnegie Recital Hall, and on WNBC and WQXR Radio in New York where he performed as solo artist and accompanist. Ann Owen performed the NY Premiere of his Second Clarinet Sonata on WQXR Radio in 1975, and in 1976 Karl performed a recital of piano music by his teacher and well-known composer, Richard Lane, whose complete works have been published in Europe.

During this time he also served as Musical Director for the Riverdale Community Theatre, The Kings' Players,and The Greenport Summer Playhouse. He also participated in several Off-Broadway productions.