John Mannos started playing the piano at age 5, and has made music a central part of his life ever since. During high school John attended the Interlochen Arts Camp and played chamber music with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 he won the Concerto Competition at Interlochen and earned a bronze medal in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. John received his Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts and his Master of Music from Purchase College- State University of New York. At Purchase, John began playing for classes and auditions at the Conservatory of Dance, thus beginning his career as a dance pianist. He has since worked for almost every dance studio and company in Chicago, including Ballet Chicago, The Joffrey, Hubbard Street, Ruth Page, Chicago Ballet Arts, DanceWorks Chicago, and River North Dance. In 2014 John performed live on stage with dancers at Ballet Chicago’s Spring Repertory performance, playing Brahms’ Intermezzi Op. 117 to the choreography of Ted Seymour. John was recently appointed principal pianist for Ballet Chicago and has acquired proficiency in much of the classical Balanchine repertoire.