Concert
Piano Music
General
Store
Conservatory
of the Arts
Express
Order
Concert
Piano Music
General Store
Express Order
Conservatory
of the Arts

HOURS

BY APPOINTMENT

CONCERT PIANO MUSIC

Concerts & Studio Sessions
Flexible Hours

GENERAL STORE

Phone Orders & Deliveries
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

CONSERVATORY OF THE ARTS

Lessons
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm


CALL

(831) 475-1811

WRITE TO:

P.O. Box 365
Capitola, CA 95010

Practical Elegance, 19th Century Style
Practical Elegance
19th Century Style

About


Intro

Concert pianist Anna Greco has been on an amazing journey discovering the context of her favorite classical music period, the 19th century, also called the Romantic era. She didn't know that she would find something so genuine and so practical, that it would end up restoring her during the most difficult of times.

After her childhood in Almaden Valley and Los Gatos, Anna attended John Brown University, attaining degrees in piano performance and building construction. After university, Anna worked as a professional pianist, singer, voice coach and director in the Boston area. Always wanting to be a surfer and thoroughly homesick, Anna returned home and happily settled in the Santa Cruz area where she regularly surfs and works.

Here is the story of how she discovered this context, and then built House of Greco from the ground up.

The First Discovery

First, it was in the way music is performed. It is one thing to wear black all the time and perform on a stage. If that wasn't thrilling enough, it was even more thrilling to spend time in Europe, in locations of her favorite composers and also of heritage in Italy, France, Germany and England. During her time specifically in Venice, Italy, and Salzburg, Austria, she gained a very deep and genuine understooding of how classical music could be performed like it was written yesterday, and without wearing black!

The Second Discovery

The second discovery started with color. While at the palace of Versailles in France, Anna saw a color combination that she never forgot and is still her favorite today - scarlet red and celadon. It was in the fabrics and wall colors mixed with accents of gold and brass, glass and creamy whites, as well as stone. It had a depth and realness to it that today's harsh chemical dyes cannot replace. In her ongoing research she began to see that the 19th century had specific colors that came from natural materials and plant dyes, giving products a depth and genuine feeling that today's plastics and synthetics can't match. It isn't just a feeling and an experience, it is the knowledge that nature is respected and celebrated instead of subdued and ignored, like so many of today's monochrome products that look like they are at odds with nature.

The Third Discovery

The third discovery is one that she always knew, and one that we desperately need society to acknowledge - that people need people, in person, not virtually. Human presence is real, essential and irreplaceable. Digital relationships are fake, fleeting, one-dimensional and have no lasting value. They cannot hold us up or keep us stable in hard times and work against real intimacy. Through clever subliminal messages in marketing, much of society has blindly received these little rectangular devices into their hands, allowing them to stay there throughout much of the day, no matter what a person is doing or where they are or who they are with. Horrifically, we have seen mass neglect of those in front of us while supposedly this device is so important that it must come first, before our loved ones, coworkers, friends, and neighbors. We see this while we're eating at home or at a restaurant, during class at school, during a concert, out in nature and in every public place, and worst of all - during church. Over time, the brainwashing by these devices has convinced many to give up their most precious communication assets - their presence, their eyes, ears, mouth, vocal chords and even their unique handwriting. We need these qualities in order to have the best communication possible. Real relationships, not digital relationship, are essential for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health, which is the foundation of a stable community.

Putting It Into Practice

Therefore, Anna always teaches in person. Video teaching, whether in real-time or not, removes about 80% of the essential qualities we need to later teach others and also to benefit our communities. Socializing skills cannot be fully taught because presence only exists in-person. Anna is thankful to have had all of her music and education training done in person. The conservatory that Anna teaches from is a cellphone free environment. She hopes to be of service to any that are suffering from the damaging effects of the digital world and provide a place for people to learn and enjoy reality as it is.

Going Online

In October 2023, House of Greco's retail store took on water damage and we had to move out suddenly. The website was already in development so Anna decided to finish it and to offer ordering online. Already a seasoned website designer and a successful online seller in the 2000s, she is now offering a unique website in the style of the 19th century. Anna has clocked several thousand hours building a website that is not only beautiful in style but highly functioning and relaxing to the eyes.


Supporting House of Greco

If you appreciate the work that House of Greco is doing and would like to see it continue, please consider a donation. Anna has been running her business since 1999, first as a musician, and now with retail added. In recent years it has weathered many challenges - including the pandemic shut down of the music industry, the CZU wildfire, water damage in Capitola at the retail store, and some medical struggles that nearly took her life. Anna is healthy today and the business is once again stabilized and open for customers and clients, but it will be recuperating for some time.

Your support in the following areas is much appreciated and helps keep House of Greco afloat. Anna loves her work and wishes to always be available to enrich people's lives. Below are some of areas where your donation helps:

  • Current transition out of the retail space
  • Regular operations and putting food on the table
  • Website design
  • Anna's preparation time at the piano
  • Restocking inventory
  • Advertising
  • Admin help


A vision for a future location is in the works. If you'd like to hear about the vision and invest in it, we are seeking support. It promises to be an amazing, local place for people to shop, eat, relax, and have ongoing experiences that keep our community stable and happy - in person!

Are you a local interested in working here? We are looking for like-minded people to join us!

If you are interested in investment or working here, please call with your lovely voice or write a handwritten letter. You are special and that's what we'd like to see!

Best Regards, ~ Anna, owner


Updated March 4th, 2024