Gregory Knight, 53
Software engineer
Morganton, North Carolina
United States

Gregory Knight started playing piano at age 4, under his mother’s guidance. Formal instruction began seven years later, at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, where he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in piano performance. While in school, he participated in a master class with Guido Agosti in 1981, and placed first in the Gardner-Webb College Concerto Competition one year later. Following graduation, Mr. Knight went on to pursue a career in software engineering, yet continued to take master classes and hone his musical hobby. He looks to the Amateur Competition as a means to test his aptitude: “It gives me not only a reason to learn new, challenging repertoire, but also an opportunity to perform it for people who truly understand and appreciate piano literature.” The motorcycle buff is a father of four and grandfather of three, and has been married 18 years to his wife, Cathy.

COMPETITION REPERTOIRE

Preliminary Round
GERSHWIN-WILD   Embraceable You
BEETHOVEN   Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3: I. Presto

Quarterfinal Round
LISZT   Mephisto Waltz No. 1
LISZT   Paganini Etude No. 3 in G-sharp Minor (“La Campanella”)

Semifinal Round
CHOPIN   Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, op. 35

Final Round
BEETHOVEN   Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, op. 37: I. Allegro con brio