Chicago Symphony mourns cellist, 61
RIPThe orchestra has announced the death of Jonathan Pegis, Jonathan Pegis, who played in the cello section from 1986 until 2018. A former student of Lynn Harrell, he died at home in Iowa of natural causes.
Riccardo Muti said: ‘I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jon Pegis, a very kind person and a wonderful player. I will remember him and his wonderful contribution to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.’
A career highlight was touring with the LaSalle Quartet and violist Donald McInnes and recording Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night with them for Deutsche Grammophon in 1982.
photo: Todd Rosenberg
He is part of a very musical family. His brother Jolyon is a cellist with the Dallas Symphony, a sister, Monica, is a violinist as is a brother, Gabriel. RIP.
I’m saddened to learn of Jon’s passing. I collaborated a number of times with him in recital and chamber music, and always enjoyed his artistry and friendship. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
I frequently played chamber music with him, and he very generously performed a lot of my music. A wonderfully imaginative musician with a technique I could only envy, and a man of numerous intense enthusiasms. He could hold forth joyfully for hours on the “Titanic”, on chess, or sailboat racing. And as far as I can remember, I never beat him at table tennis, though we must have played backstage at the CSO hundreds of time at intermissions and rehearsal breaks.
Jon always made it a point to approach me and thank the stagehands for their work during difficult tours. He was very much appreciated. A good man.
Jon (Jay at the time) went to high school together and sailed on Irondequoit Bay. Sadly loosing touch a few tears after high school, I followed his career from afar, and am quite saddened to learn of his passing. He was a great friend and a wonderful person.