Meet Greg
Greg Starr’s musical journey is as eclectic as it is accomplished. With a lineage of pianists tracing back to Beethoven, Greg's career spans decades of remarkable breadth—from transcribing Milli Vanilli’s infamous debut album for commercial print to sharing the stage with Steve Allen, and even working with the beloved Fred Rogers.
As a founding member of the underground cult band The Rakes, Greg has always moved comfortably between genres and scenes. His career in music production includes writing and producing original scores for Wisconsin Public Television, Milwaukee Children’s Theater, the Library of Congress, Lutheran Brotherhood, and Hal Leonard Corporation.
In 2006, Greg released his debut solo piano album, Landscapes, to critical acclaim. Pete Havey, Program Director of Mystic Soundscapes Radio, called it “fantastic,” while Bob Dahl of Whisperings Solo Piano Radio praised it as “inspired work” and “awesome.” Bill Binkelman of Zone Music Reporter described the album as “refreshing, direct, and honest.”
Greg followed with A Singular Point of Grace: Songs from the Guesthouse in 2012, a deeply introspective collection of solo piano compositions. Kathy Parsons of MainlyPiano.com praised the album as being “composed with an abundance of grace and charm… played with heartfelt expression and sincerity.” Donovan Johnson, founder of Enlightened Piano Radio, described Greg’s work as possessing “a heartfelt quality that is universal.”
His performance credits span solo and ensemble appearances with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra (Bach f-minor Keyboard Concerto), Orchestra of Central Washington University (Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor), the Kenosha Symphony, and more. He has also performed with the Milwaukee Opera Company, Milwaukee Musical Theatre, and numerous jazz, rock, and pop ensembles, including Michael Drake & The No Tan Lines Band.
Formerly an editor in the Keyboard Product Development Department at Hal Leonard Corporation, Greg authored and arranged numerous educational and commercial publications. He now runs Quiet Rain Music, a boutique label specializing in solo piano and electronic music.
Greg holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Central Washington University, where he also earned undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Music Theory/Composition. His piano mentors include Lockrem Johnson (Guggenheim Fellow), Dr. Donald Chan, Tim Strong (Cliburn competitor), Dr. John Salmon (international competition winner), and Dr. Bonnie Bricker-Smith.