Johannes Gray, age 11, of Wilmette, IL, began playing the cello at age of two and a half. Currently, Johannes studies cello with Gilda Barston and Hans Jorgen Jensen at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he also studies piano with Soo Lee and composition with Matt Hagel. On Dec. 29, 2008, Johannes was named the Overall Open Division Winner of the 2008 Walgreens National Concerto Competition. He is also a top prize-winner in several other competitions, including the 2008 Sejong Music Competition, all divisions, primary through senior, 2005-2008, of the Chinese Fine Arts Society Music Festival in Honor of Confucius competition, and 2007 SAM primary division. Johannes has played in master classes with several leading pedagogues, including Lynn Harrell, Amit Peled, Timothy Eddy, Anthony Elliot, Aldo Parisot and Janos Starker; and has performed at events for the Yo-Yo Ma Silk Road Project, performed live on WFMT radio, and in January 2008 performed, the last movement of the Haydn Concerto in C with the Oistrak Symphony Orchestra at DePaul University. Johannes also performs with his string quartet, The Shades of Gray. Outside music, Johannes is a passionate ornithologist and avid reader. |