John Condra was born on May 12, 1985, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a classical pianist and his mother a violinist. From a young age, Condra showed a natural talent for music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Condra's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began taking piano lessons with his father and quickly progressed, winning his first competition at the age of six. Condra continued to study with his father until he was accepted into the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division at the age of 12. At Juilliard, Condra studied with renowned pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky. He quickly established himself as a prodigious talent, winning numerous competitions and awards. In 2001, he won the Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competition, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony Orchestra. Condra continued his studies at Juilliard, earning his Bachelor of Music degree in 2007 and his Master of Music degree in 2009. During his time at Juilliard, he studied with some of the most respected pianists in the world, including Emanuel Ax, Murray Perahia, and Richard Goode. After completing his studies at Juilliard, Condra began performing extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 2010, performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the New York Youth Symphony. The performance was widely praised, with The New York Times calling Condra "a pianist of uncommon sensitivity and depth." Condra's career continued to flourish, and he became known for his virtuosic performances of the Romantic repertoire. He performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2014, Condra released his debut album, featuring works by Chopin, Liszt, and Schumann. The album received critical acclaim, with Gramophone magazine calling Condra "a pianist of exceptional talent and insight." Condra's career was not without its challenges, however. In 2016, he suffered a serious injury to his right hand, which threatened to end his career. He underwent extensive rehabilitation and was eventually able to return to performing, although he had to make adjustments to his technique. Despite the setback, Condra continued to perform at the highest level. In 2018, he performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Berlin Philharmonic, under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. The performance was hailed as a triumph, with The Guardian calling Condra "a pianist of extraordinary skill and sensitivity." Condra's career was cut tragically short when he died in a car accident on June 15, 2020, at the age of 35. His death was a shock to the classical music world, and tributes poured in from musicians and fans around the world. Throughout his career, Condra was known for his technical brilliance, his deep musicality, and his commitment to the classical repertoire. He was a true artist, dedicated to his craft and to sharing the beauty of classical music with audiences around the world.

More....