In his young career, Los Angeles-based pianist Tony Ann has already earned unexpected success on the largest stage, serving as touring keyboard player for the Grammy Award-winning electronic duo, The Chainsmokers. Ann also has songwriting credits for the singles “Sick Boy,” Side Effects” and “Call You Mine.”
Originally from Toronto, the former attendee of the Berklee College of Music in Boston showcases his talents on his YouTube channel where he has nearly 50K subscribers. It was there that his piano mashups and covers of The Chainsmokers caught the eye of the DJ duo. Ann suddenly went from small gigs at Berklee to the biggest gig of his life – a performance with The Chainsmokers on Saturday Night Live in New York City. Covers of BTS and original compositions can also be found on his YouTube Channel. In the video below, Ann masterfully transforms mobile phone ringtones into beautiful classical arrangements.
Ann is currently a member of The Swoons. Described in the band’s website as “a delicate balance of soul-infused synth-rock & classical-folk,” The Swoons reunites Ann with Berklee College of Music classmates Matthew Underwood and Trevor Myall.
Ann’s most recent video on his YouTube channel is a mashup of Life Goes On by BTS and a new song by The Swoons. The video has more than 2000 views.
Ann began playing piano at age 12. In an interview with Billboard, he recalls intense classical training in high school, putting in as many as 10 hours a day of practice. While he reflects back on the difficulty of such training, he says it was necessary to get to where he is today.
After high school, Ann attended The Cleveland Institute of Music, a private music conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio. It was there that his classical training intensified even more. While Ann’s classical training is clear in his many YouTube videos, it was at the Cleveland conservatory that Ann realized he had very little emotional attachment to it. His true passion would be writing, composing, and performing pop music.
If you would like to see more from this incredible pianist from Los Angeles, subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow his Facebook page.