Internationally acclaimed pianist Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera will be the featured artist in the fall Lingenfelter Concert Series at McPherson College. He will perform a recital blending rhythm and soul on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium. Admission is free.
The McPherson College Jazz Band will join Herrera to close the concert.
Known for his dazzling technique and charismatic performances, Herrera blends the rich musical traditions of Cuba with the spontaneity of jazz and the passion of classical music, creating a sound that is both exhilarating and deeply expressive.
Herrera stunned Cuban audiences at age 12 when he performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. At 16, he was invited to perform with famed Cuban pianist Ruben Gonzalez, a member of the Buena Vista Social Club, who inspired him to study Cuba’s traditional rhythms. Herrera has since performed in many of the world’s finest concert halls and at prestigious jazz festivals. His honors include Emmy and Grammy awards.
During his visit to McPherson, Herrera will serve as a clinician and performer for the McPherson College Jazz Festival on Nov. 5-6. In addition to working with the high school bands, he will perform at noon Thursday, Nov. 5, in Brown Auditorium for students attending the festival, accompanied by the McPherson College Jazz Band. On Sunday, Nov. 8, he will perform with the Salina Symphony.
Admission to the Lingenfelter concert is free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to college students on campus and younger students at her downtown studio. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group of Wichita, established the fund that supports two annual music performance events with particular emphasis on piano.