Bunny Just Piano Festival Presents Internationally Acclaimed Recitalist Jay Hershberger

    January 17th, 2020

    MANKATO, Minn. – Jay Hershberger will perform on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm in the Elias J. Halling Recital Hall of the Earley Center for Performing Arts, 320 Maywood Ave. The evening piano recital marks the final event of the 24th Annual Bunny Just Piano Festival.

    Submitted Photo - Jay Hershberger - Mankato, MN
    Submitted Photo – Jay Hershberger – Mankato, MN

    Claudio Arrau, one of the great pianists from the 20th century once said, “the artist must disappear into the piano, leaving only the music for the listener.” Jay Hershberger believes that this captures the essence of his personal musical ideal. He thinks an artist has responsibilities in performance and says, “The best compliment I can be paid is not you’re a wonderful pianist, rather, I just loved that piece of music. It moved me so…”

    Jay Hershberger has performed throughout the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Hershberger has also served on numerous juries of competitions and award contests. He is the vice president of the American Liszt Society.

    Through his performing experiences he has come to the conclusion that performing is an act of sharing with others. He wants his audiences to come to concerts ready to receive music into their minds and hearts.

    Hershberger is an associate professor of piano at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He insists on instilling in his students the joy of sharing an experience between composer, artist, and listener, and the satisfaction that comes with trying to remind oneself and others through the re-creative process of music-making that there are good things in the world. He says, “We live in an age of incivility, savage polarity, and societal suspicion and I hope my students will learn to bridge these issues with music, for the sake of others. I hope to remind others of the love for beauty, nobility, and human compassion. If they can catch a glimpse of this artistic ideal, then they will tangibly help others catch a vision for such things.”

    General admission for the concert is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Minnesota State Mankato students will be admitted free with a valid MavCARD. Performance Series ticket packages are available for those who pre-purchase. For more information visit link.mnsu.edu/musictickets or call the Performance Series office, (507) 389-5549.