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deVon Russell Gray will perform two sets of solo piano.
Who is deVon Russell Gray? A divinely guided multimedia social justice activist or a pantheistic audial alchemist? Central to his creative practice is the fundamental belief of starting from a place of "I know nothing" when approaching any new composition, performance, or creative endeavor. Embracing the idea that empty vessels receive new knowledge more efficiently, he constantly seeks a transformative death/rebirth process to expand his artistic horizons. Among other known knowns about this artist, Gray absorbs tremendous inspiration from the natural world, finding solace and reflection in the great outdoors. He cherishes moments of indulgence in eating, drinking, and merriment, and he possesses a deep appreciation for activities such as moon gazing, leaf peeping, and immersing himself in the world of cinema. In his downtime, he reluctantly participates in the commonplace mixed economy, feeling frustrated by its limitations and yearning for something different. In his uptime, he creates exceptional art. In terms of recent accomplishments, Gray's improvisation trio (featuring Nathan Hanson on saxophones, Davu Seru on percussion, and Gray on piano) released their debut album, WE SICK, on Innova in 2023. Additionally, Gray made his mark as a composer with the lead single on Lara Downes’ latest album, Love At Last (Pentatone), which reached number one on the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts. Furthermore, Gray’s first orchestral work was premiered by one of the groups of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestras. Most recently, he received his second composer fellowship from the McKnight Foundation, an esteemed recognition administered by the American Composers Forum.
