He is a cellist born in Rochester, New York who studied at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Division and took his undergraduate studies at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
During his time at Cincinnati be became a member of LaSalle Quartet and toured nationally and in Germany. The ensemble saw success when they were awarded a Tokyo Record Academy prize in Japan in 1982 for their performance of “Verklaerte Nacht” by Schoenberg.
In 1984 he took further studies to gain his Master’s degree and a Performance certificate at the Eastman School of Music and became a member of the Rochester Philharmonic. He remained there for two years before joining the Chicago Symphony in 1986.
As a chamber musician he is often heard in the Chicago Symphony Chamber Music series and has performed as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles that include the Highland Park Strings, the Signature Symphony and the Texas Chamber Orchestra.
Recordings he has performed on include The Medinah Sessions by Chicago Pro Musica, Corigiliano: Symphony No. 1, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Arnold Schoenberg: Verklacht Nacht Op. 4/Piano Pieces Op. 11 & 19/Five Orchestral Pieces Op.16, Soloists of the Orchestra Vol. 3 and Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 by Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Arnold Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht by LaSalle Quartet, Yellowstone: The Music of Nature by Mannheim Steamroller, On Record by Various Artists and the soundtrack of Lincoln along with several others.
In the field of musical education he became a teacher of Cello Orchestral Studies at Northwestern University in 1993 where he taught for the next 19 years. He also regularly participated in the Northwestern University Winter Chamber Music Festival.
Sources:
- https://www.cellobello.org/cello-blog/author/jonathan-pegis/
- https://www.ovationpress.com/c-129.aspx?searchEngineName=pegis-jonathan#[PageNumber(0)|PageSize(99999)|PageSort(Composer,name)|DisplayType(Grid)]
- https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Jonathan%20Pegis
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jonathan-pegis-mn0001330655
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1092564-Jonathan-Pegis?type=Credits&filter_anv=0