Greg Akagi
Assistant Percussion Specialist

Greg Akagi grew up in Aloha, Oregon and has been performing music since starting with the piano at age 3.

Greg Akagi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and another BA in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Oberlin College and Conservatory. Here, he was an original member of the “Ragtime Ramblers” and part of many other performance groups.

He received a Master’s degree in Music Performance at Cleveland State University and became a section member of both the Canton and West Virginia Symphony orchestras in 2000. Four years later, Greg also joined the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra as Principal Percussionist.

He gave private lessons and taught percussion classes at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia from 2009 - 2022. Greg has also taught in many outreach programs over the years.

Since 2006, Greg has been the Assistant Principal Timpanist and Section Percussionist with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra/Washington National Opera in Washington D.C. Primary teachers have included Roger Allen, Michael Rosen, Al Otte and Tom Freer.

Greg has been affiliated with AYPO regularly since 2021.