Jordan Rudess (born November 4, 1956) is a Julliard-trained keyboardist most famously known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Jordan was recognized by his 2nd grade teacher as an exceptional piano player, and was immediately given professional tuition to enhance his prodigious talents. By the age of nine he entered the prestigious Julliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training, but by his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music.