Many high school seniors are juggling schoolwork and plans for the future; however, Senior Jan Knutson not only juggles school, but also concerts. From the ripe age of 10, he has acknowledged his passion for playing the guitar and music in general, and he has evolved into an artist of such eminence that some describe him as “destined to be one of the all-time greats on the instrument.”

Despite this declaration, the ERHS Senior remains humble, and thinks he doesn’t even deserve to be labeled as a prodigy. “The truth is that even though I have played music my whole life, it has never been easy. Playing on a consistently good level requires thousands of hours of focused, regimented practice, and the only thing that separates so called “prodigies” from others is that they started earlier.” Still, others disagree. Martin Taylor commented on Knutson’s website describing Jan as “an extraordinary talent. He doesn’t just play music, he IS music!”

Knutson works closely with Tom Mindte, the engineer and owner of Patuxent Music, and has already produced two albums on iTunes titled Out Of Nowhere and Looking Both Ways. “Most of the inspiration to produce my CD’s were based on suggestions from teachers or mentors.”

Being a professional guitarist and a student has its difficulties: “Performing can definitely get in the way of school if I am not careful, and many times it’s just a matter of weighing the consequences of under-performing in either a gig or on schoolwork. I always try to do my best, but if I have to sacrifice more time of studying for an important performance, then I will generally take that risk, or vice versa” said Knutson.

Like many other artists, Knutson looks forward to collaborating with other musicians, as it can be a way to improve his craft and grow as an artist. “You always learn a lot, especially when working with artists from other genres. I have learned so much about Afro Latin, bluegrass, songwriting and more.” On the issue of fan encounters, Knutson welcomes them with open arms. “I am really honored when people take the time to come to me and congratulate me on my work. On rare occasions people who have heard me on streaming sites from outside the country take the time to email me or message me on Facebook, and I’m always honored, if not a little surprised when that happens.”

However, there are some issues that Knutson still struggles with, like interviews. “Interviews are always difficult for me for some reason that I cannot really put  my finger on. As I have done more and more interviews though, I realize now that what is more important is to be yourself, but do so in a coherent and understandable matter.”

Regardless of the adversity, Knutson still remains eager to learn, ambitious and focused. “I have so much to learn, and I only just got started.”