Greg Knowles, Ph.D.

School of Music
The Juilliard School
Production Company: HelionGrp@aol.com
The Juilliard School: GKnowles@Juilliard.edu

B.M.Ed., Aquinas College; M.F.A. Honolulu University of the Arts; Ph.D. Central Pacific University; Artist Studies in Conducting and Theory / Harmony, The Juilliard School. The Juilliard School.

Greg Knowles has been a record producer and record label exec in Los Angeles for the past 28 years.  Prior to that, he was a percussionist and high school music teacher.  Now based in New York, he continues as President of the Helion Group of Record Producers, which produces records for labels and artists, in all styles of music, as well as spoken word audio and children's albums. 

Dr. Knowles teaching experience includes directing instrumental music, teaching music theory, music history & literature, conducting, counterpoint, form & analysis, and orchestration, as well as private percussion and Artist in Residence in Percussion.  He also designed the music program at Honolulu University of the Arts and Central Pacific University, also serving on the CPU Board of Trustees.  Greg's current primary teaching position is on the music faculty at The Juilliard School in New York, teaching music industry and recording classes, along with music history and theory & harmony, and music history.  As a guest lecturer of master classes on the recording industry for many of the songwriting and performance organizations throughout the country, he still maintains contact with young musicians, also by teaching summer camps at The International Institute for Young Musicians.  Dr. Knowles is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Accademia del Teatro – USA, the American Foundation of the Accademia in Cagli, Italy – a conservatory of bel canto opera.  Along with his education experience, Dr. Knowles has been a music judge from Solo & Ensemble Festivals, to The American Song Festival, to the Miss Burbank Pagent.

He is the author of "Reading Exercises for Solfege" initially written for use by the Juilliard music theory department, and now being used as a music theory/ear training text at Juilliard, as well as several other universities.  “A Composers Treatise for Scoring Percussion” will be published in the spring of 2009.  He is the content/concept editor for a new music theory textbook, "The Language and Materials of Music" by Kendall Briggs, also of the Juilliard faculty.

Still performing, he was music director and touring drummer for many rock and funk recording artists, as well as several "oldies" bands from the 60's and 70's.  He spent many years touring with rocker Evie Sands.  On the classical side, he is percussionist for the National Festival Orchestra under the direction of Lucas Foss, which is based at Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as principal percussionist with the Northwinds Wind Ensemble of Long Island, New York.

Greg's current producing/recording projects include The Prometheus Chamber Orchestra featuring Wilson Hermanto, conductor and Kendall Briggs composer, composer/pianist Miltiades Matthias, composer/pianist Reina Sang, along with a new set of piano nocturnes by composer Noah Lukeman - all classical artists, also producing two new albums for jazz legend Victor Goines.  Greg is currently producing two new recording groups, The Juilliard Jazz Quintet and the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra both with debut albums releasing soon.  He has also produced tracks for Dr. Demento, albums for Grammy nominated cartoon voice artist, June Foray (voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, among several others), Grammy nominated writer and actor Clifton Davis, Miriam Cutler & Swingstreet, Diana Blair, Brian Evans, and is executive producer of the movie thriller Laughing Dead.  Greg is the music director / conductor for a new Broadway musical, Flyer, based on the lives of the Wright Brothers, which will open on Broadway soon.

Very active with the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy Awards), Greg was on the Board of Governors for 8 years, served 3 terms as Los Angeles President, and 6 years on the National Board of Trustees of the Academy.  His participation within the Academy includes:  The Professional Education Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, Producer of the Year Craft Committee, and chairman and producer of Grammy in the Schools for the past 17 years.  He has received the Academy President's Medallion 3 times.  He is still very active with the Academy Foundation.

Greg and his wife, Katie – an ER doctor, live in Long Island, New York.  An airplane, seaplane, helicopter, glider, and corporate jet pilot and flight instructor, Greg can be seen most weekends flying an antique Ford Tri-Motor or a vintage DC-3 airliner in airshows.  He also volunteers with Central Park Medical as a paramedic.