Kohler Hall is graced with a piano, and appropriately enough – a pianist.
But if your wish is for John James’s fingers to deliver the soft, melodic tones of Mozart or jam to the soulful sounds of Cee Lo Green, you will have to travel all the way to the 7th floor to find the man who can deliver the music.
But please don’t ask for John, because you’ll most likely be met with a disgruntled look. That’s because anyone who is anyone knows him, as JJ.
JJ Anshus is junior from Milwaukee and a piano performance with an emphasis in pedagogy at Lawrence. What does that mean? It means he’s good.
However, a humble Anshus told me that his talents didn’t come naturally – he said they were 15 years in the making.
“When I was four I wanted to be a rock star, so I started taking guitar lessons, and didn’t start piano until a year later,” said Anshus. “I kept taking lessons in both and I did what most other pianists who were semi-serious did – competitions like WSMA and WMTA solo competitions every year.”
But I’m still skeptical. I’ve seen this guy play. And when you have it, you have it. Even still, Anshus said he didn’t consider focusing on piano in college until his junior year in high school.
“It was then that I started to really kick myself into gear and pursue piano as a profession,” Anshus said, which meant a lot of work on his “classical chops” as well as continuing with accompaniment and jazz.
And after three years developing a repertoire that spans across musical disciplines, JJ has not only expanded academically, but also in his personal music career. This year, he joined forces with five other conservatory students this year to start the band, Mike Pope and the Papal Schism.
Anshus said that the guys were already performing everywhere form fraternity parties to credited ensembles, and that’s when Mike Pope, another conservatory student, approached him to make the band.
“Someone brought up the papal schism and we Wiki’d it and liked the idea of the name because is was basically an oxymoron, and very catchy. We currently have our own e-mail and website, and brand new business cards,” he said.
And the rest is history. After playing gigs almost every weekend this year, it’s clear that the band has established popularity that’s still growing.
As a musician, JJ says that being able to make music with his friends, collaborate, share his talents, and co-exsist in music is one of the most rewarding sensations.
“The thought of how far we can take this group is really limitless and the fact that we keep pushing ourselves further in both our music and our performance makes that dream all the closer to being a reality,” said Anshus.
He added, “I also love the adrenaline rush right before and after I perform, its a feeling you only get during those moments — and thats why performers perform. To chase after that feeling that only presents itself to the mind in those in-the-moment times.”
Be sure to find the band at at Ormsby Zoo Days, LU AROO, Jamnesty, and many other events later on in the term!
After college JJ plan on grad school, particularly looking at University of Miami for his masters and doctorate in piano.
But no matter where he lands, it became clear that JJ still finds fulfillment in the emotional gratification that music brings him.
“The fact that I get to share my talents with others through art is so rewarding,” he said. “I am a very extroverted person and while I love talking with people, music expresses what I can’t say. It’s basically my second language.”
If you want to see some impressive piano chops – I STRONGLY recommend you come to JJ’s upcoming recital: Sunday, May 15th 6:30 PM at Harper Hall
Thanks JJ for your time – you are truly an inspiration to us!
Note: This article is written by and for the musically inapt. Music majors, please bear with the general terms and the interpretations of a non-musical person :)