Greyson Geisness
Instrument:
Viola
Studies:
Interlochen Arts Academy
Biography:
Greyson Geisness recently graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy with High Honors and was presented with a Young Artist Award for outstanding achievements. Some of the awards that he won in the past year include being named a YoungArts Scholar, First Place in the OPUS music competition (Florida Division), National Winner of the NFMC Wendell Irish Viola Competition, and Second Place winner of the MASTA Elizabeth A H Green live solo competition for ages 16-23. He is also proud to have given an honorable mention in the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, which is primarily a conservatory level competition. He is currently competing as a finalist in the American Prize Instrumental Soloist Division and was excited to win the National Society of High School Scholars Performing Arts Music Scholarship. Greyson has taken part in several summer programs including the esteemed Castleman Quartet Program. This year he will be attending his first fellowship at the Montecito International Music Festival. Greyson is an avid chamber musician. This year his quartet was chosen to represent Interlochen Arts Academy in New York City during a performance tour and last year he was chosen to attend a Chamber Ensemble Intensive in Siena Italy, where students from Interlochen Arts Academy collaborated with students from the Conservatorio Rinaldo Franci. In addition, while attending the Philadelphia International Music Festival, Greyson and some friends created The Maxmillian Quintet, which won First Place in The Charleston International Music Competition. Greyson also enjoys using his love of music to give back to the community. In the past, he created the “Find Your Music Superpower” at his local library to help young children get exposure to different instruments and currently he is a member and soloist for the Back to Bach Project which makes art education accessible to youth. Greyson has also been a volunteer music theory tutor and a teaching assistant for the director of strings and viola at Interlochen Arts Academy. He also frequently performs in community events, fundraising concerts and retirement homes. Greyson plays on a 2004 Oded Kishony viola on generous loan from the Virtu Foundation. He is excited to be attending Juilliard this fall, where he’ll be studying under the auspices of Professor Carol Rodland. When not surrounding himself with music, Greyson enjoys the beach, snowboarding, good food, and travel.
