The PA System

Above photo by Chad Kirvan.

Meet Gregory Lewis, a Virtual High School alumnus who completed several courses with us during his secondary school years when he consistently performed at the top of his class. He was the recipient of the Julie O’Rourke Scholarship in 2013 when he was beginning his undergraduate degree in Violin Performance. Gregory has since completed his undergraduate degree and has just begun his Master’s Degree at Yale University, studying Violin Performance.

Praised for his brilliant technique, control, and wonderful musical personality, Gregory Lewis is recognized as one of Canada’s most prominent rising violinists. Since his solo orchestral debut with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra at age 10, Gregory has appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Consortium Aurora Borealis, and the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist, he has been a featured performer from coast to coast in Canada, with highlights including the Scotia Festival of Music (Halifax), Virtuosi Recital Series (Winnipeg), Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, and most recently, a recital tour of British Columbia. He has also appeared in recital in New York, Indiana, and Colorado, most notably in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall twice in 2015.

Named one of CBC’s 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30 of 2017, Gregory has won numerous prizes at prestigious competitions, receiving First Prize in the 2017 Canadian National Music Festival and in the 2015 American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. He also earned a Second Prize in the 2016 Doris McLellan Competition and in the 2015 Canadian Music Competition National Finals. During his undergraduate studies, Gregory won nearly every major competition in Winnipeg, including the University of Manitoba Concerto Competition, the Genser Scholarship Competition, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg Scholarship Competition, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Up Close and Orchestral Competition. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in June 2017 with the Gold Medal for highest academic standing in his class, and has now begun his Master’s Degree in Violin Performance at Yale University.

“I give so much credit to VHS for adequately preparing me for post-secondary studies, allowing me to establish habits which have really helped me excel academically. VHS provided me with vital flexibility during my high school years, allowing me to perform and compete internationally from a very young age. I’m very thankful for the opportunities I’ve had.”
— Gregory Lewis

We are proud to have been a part of Gregory’s successful journey, and we wish him all the best as he completes his program at Yale this year!