John “BJ” G., born in Detroit Michigan, is a singer, cellist, and a teacher. Although born in the heart of Motown he grew up in Virginia and is a product of the Virginia Beach city public schools music program. In grade school, BJ was a member of Hampton Roads Chamber Players and the Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra that performed all over the world. He went on to study at James Madison University with concentration in Music Education, Music Performance and Music Industry.
After college,...
John “BJ” G., born in Detroit Michigan, is a singer, cellist, and a teacher. Although born in the heart of Motown he grew up in Virginia and is a product of the Virginia Beach city public schools music program. In grade school, BJ was a member of Hampton Roads Chamber Players and the Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra that performed all over the world. He went on to study at James Madison University with concentration in Music Education, Music Performance and Music Industry.
After college, BJ did some time gigging in New York City and was music faculty at the Interlochen Center for the arts summer arts program for three years. Then he came back to his hometown to teach strings at the Park View music program at Park view elementary in Portsmouth, VA for 5 years. Since then BJ has made a career of singing and playing his cello at the same time in his duo with long time friend and classmate pianist Jason Brown and with his band.
He also has performances nationally and international of his original compositions blending his backgrounds of classical, jazz and pop/funk music and has been the supporting act for artist like Lauryn Hill and Lionel Richie. His other performances have included the International Jazz Festival in Barcelona and most recently the NAMM Show in California. As an educator and performer, BJ lives to expand the boundaries of musicians of all genres to a broader audience and conjure even more possibilities to spread the joy of learning and performing music.
