William Gannon

Will Gannon is 15 years old, and a tenth-grade student at Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Will began studying piano during the summer following fifth grade (shortly before his 11th birthday), after discovering an affinity for the keyboard on the iPad application “Garage Band”. Despite Will’s relatively late arrival to the piano, Will’s intense studies have enabled him to quickly rise to the level of his peers, many of whom have been studying piano since Kindergarten or First Grade. Will’s recent achievements include placing second in the 2021 Schubert Club Scholarship Competition, earning an Honorable Mention in the 2021 LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra’s Rising Stars Concerto Competition, and being named a featured soloist at the 2020 Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic, performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with his high school Honors Wind Ensemble. Will has also been named twice as Minnesota State Alternate in the Music Teachers National Association Piano Competition (2020, 2019), runner up in the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Piano Competition (2019), twice as finalist in the St. Paul Piano Teachers’ Association Concerto Competition (2020, 2019), scholarship recipient in the 2019-20 Minnesota Public Radio “Minnesota Varsity” Competition, and was selected statewide as the pianist for the 2020 Minnesota State Honor Jazz Band. Will studies with Dr. Joseph Zins of Crocus Hill Studios. Will also studies jazz piano with Mary Louise Knutson, a prominent Twin Cities jazz pianist. During his “off time”, Will enjoys accompanying and performing with his older brother, who studies classical saxophone at the University of Minnesota School of Music.