Jordan Rudess
In the 2nd grade, a teacher noticed how well Jordan played, and he was immediately given professional lessons
At age 9, he entered The Julliard School of Music pre-college division for classical piano lessons
By his teenage years, he had become increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music, and against the wishes of his parents and teachers, discontinued classical piano in favor of progressive rock.
Rudesss has cited his influential keyboard players to be Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, and Patrick Moraz
Jordan won the “Best New Talent” poll in Keyboard Magazine in 1994
He has been the full-time keyboardist for Dream Theatre since 1999