Michael Edward Grego

Michael Grego, 65, a resident of Arcadia, CA passed away on February 3, 2023. Michael was born in Montebello, CA on June 26, 1957. He attended St. Stephen Martyr School in Monterey Park, class of 1971, and graduated from Loyola High School in 1975. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from Loyola Marymount University. In 1983 he graduated with a Master of Music in Clarinet from USC. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance from USC in 1991. He attended the Music Academy of the West where he studied with his principal teacher, Mitchell Lurie.

He married his wife Michele Grego in 1987 whom he met at USC. They were married for 35 years. They have a daughter, Angelina Grego.

Michael worked extensively as an orchestral musician, soloist, and chamber musician. He was a member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra. He performed regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, and Los Angeles Opera Orchestra. Michael performed in Europe, Canada, Brazil, Japan and throughout the U.S. He also appeared as a guest artist at the Ojai Festival, with the California EAR Unit, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Berlin Festwochen and Martha Vineyard Chamber Music Festival. In addition to performing in numerous musical theater productions at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles, he was active in the recording industry, playing for various films, commercials, and television shows. He played on Grammy nominated recordings by the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Grammy winning recordings with the LA Opera.

In the field of music education, Michael taught at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Cal State University Long Beach, and Chapman University. Early in his career he taught at Loyola High School and late in his career at Flintridge Sacred Heart.

Michael served as a personnel manager for the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, committee chair of several orchestra negotiating committees, and was a Trustee with the Musicians Union, Local 47.

Michael's last concert was with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on July 31, 2022.

Michael was a devoted husband and father and enjoyed time with family and friends. His passion was sailing and he loved his time on his sail boat, Pleiades.

Michael is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Rosemary Grego. He is survived by his wife Michele, daughter Angelina, sister Gina (Kevin), sister Michelle (Jeff), aunt Gilda, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the American Brain Tumor Association or the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Flintridge Sacred Heart, La Canada, CA.

Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. at Flintridge Sacred Heart, 400 Saint Katherine Drive, La Canada Flintridge 91011.

RSVP to michele.grego@att.net