Outside the musical world of Room 1404, the melodic wonders of choir stay hidden from the majority of students. Inside the room, the sound of harmonizing voices fills the space, and one single piano plays, holding its own glorious tune. Sitting at the instrument, coaxing sounds out of its keys, is Collaborative Accompanist Gregory Shifrin, known to the choir family as Mr. G.
For the past eight years, Shifrin has been an invaluable member of South’s choral program, Choral Director Robert Shellard said. Shifrin has been teaching and accompanying at various places around the world, including Germany and Poland, while also competing in piano duo competitions internationally since the age of 19, Shifrin said. However, Shifrin especially enjoys the high school environment because of the young energy and passion that students have for music, he added.
“I feel like my skills and experience are needed, and I’m really happy to help support young musicians,” Shifrin said. “I’m happy that I’m in a community of people that are like-minded and enthusiastic about music, just like I am.”
Along with accompanying the various co-curricular and extra curricular choirs at South, Shifrin also prepares students for voice recitals, records backing tracks for auditions at multiple schools, and accompanies various religious services, Shifrin said. Shifrin never fails to perform his numerous duties with an upbeat attitude and a friendly smile, sophomore Lily Fontana, Premier Chorus Member, said.
“Mr. G’s always such a ray of sunshine,” Fontana said. “Everyone in the choir program loves him.
Shifrin has not only impacted students, but also the teachers he works with, including Shellard, who said that Shifrin always goes above and beyond to do what is asked of him.
“He is the most selfless, professional, and practiced person that I have ever had the honor of working with,” Shellard said. “I would be so lucky if I got to spend the rest of my career with him. In my mind I’m living in a world where I get to work with Mr. G forever, and I’m not ready to think about any alternative.”
Shifrin grew up in an extremely competitive environment, having to compete just for a spot in school since the age of six, Shifrin said. At the [Gnesin] Moscow Special School of Music, a famous school for young musicians that demonstrate high levels of skill and ability, Shifrin constantly had one goal: to improve. It was the only way to keep his one of 12 slots for piano players in the program, and caused a lot of stress, Shifrin said.
“I was never really happy because I was chasing the horizon all the time,” Shifrin said. “When I improved, I suddenly realized that somebody else is playing a faster piece, a longer piece, a more difficult piece, and then I chased that. ”
While this goal of constant improvement allowed Shifrin to achieve a level of immense skill and compete internationally, he has found joy in using his talents to benefit South. However, many choir members still wish more people could know about his accomplishments and efforts, Shellard said.
“I wish the whole concert could be applause for Mr. G because of how much he does,” Shellard said. “He is one of the quiet heroes of South.”
