deVon Gray

deVon Russell Gray (dVRG), composer/performer, new music creator, is a scholar of feeling – a conduit of emotional imagination manifested through improvised and composed music pieces that are both new and familiar. Hip hop is a prominent element in his sonic understanding of the cosmos. He possesses equal reverence for Eric B. & Rakim alongside Bach & Bartók. Factor in love for living poets, Afrofuturism, astrophysics, SciFi, cooking, and more. Aesthetically, depth of flavor is as important as perception and presentation. The goal? Reflect the truths of life as experienced, while also dreaming up future sounds of peace and tranquility. Wit, whimsy, themes of sensuality and love are mainstays in his music making. Gray’s polyglot compositional voice intuits through clairaudience a direct connection to our collective musical legacy as guided by ancestral drumming, Ellington, Threadgill, and Mumford. Some achievements in composition have included being composer-in-residence with Schubert Club of Minnesota and guest lecturing at St. Olaf College, with fellowships through McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy for Musicians. New works have been commissioned by recording artist pianist Lara Downes, Del Sol String Quartet, the Cedar Cultural Center, Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestras, and Sandbox Percussion.