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Fairmont grad returns for piano concert

Above: Eric Head, a Fairmont High School graduate, will return to perform at a classical piano concert at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont this Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Hunter Meyer Photography

FAIRMONT– Eric Head, a 2019 graduate of Fairmont High School, will be returning to headline a piano concert at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont this Saturday. Head first played at the local venue in 2011 when he was just 10 years old.

Head is currently in his third year at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. There he’s double majoring in communication studies and music, the latter of which he’s had a long history of both success and enjoyment.

“We had a piano in my house growing up and my mom told me I used to sort of just go and bang on it,” Head said with a laugh. “But she said it was banging that sounded sort of musical.”

Head began taking taking music lessons with Sandra Krumholz when he was in about 1st grade.

“I absolutely loved it,” he said.

The early exposure to music ensured Head’s passion. He continued taking lessons with Krumholz for about 10 years and it was she who encouraged him to first play at a Lunch with the Arts at the Red Rock Center in 2011.

As Head grew older, he continued down a musical path. He was in band throughout his years at Fairmont Area Schools, serving as a drum major. Head also played the violin in orchestra and shared that now he plays in Luther College’s orchestra we well.

Outside of school, Head also found ways to share his musical talents with the community.

“I was really involved with my church, Grace Lutheran Church. I played for services and for the choir there,” he said.

When it came time for him to go off to college, Head admitted that he wasn’t sure whether he would study music.

“I knew I wanted to continue with music for sure. It was just a question of whether I wanted to study it academically. I decided to put myself out there and if it’s not for me, I could continue it as a hobby. I’ve found that maybe this is a path I do want to pursue further,” Head said.

When asked how it came to be that he would perform at the Red Rock, Head shared it was an idea he and his former orchestra teacher, Katie Hoaglund, had last summer.

“We had talked about playing a piece together with piano and violin, which will be on the program for Saturday. I’ll be playing with her and her husband, Andrew,” Head said.

At Saturday’s concert Head will mostly play classical solo piano pieces by Bach, Mozart and several other composers as well as the pieces of piano and violin together. He said he will also play some more modern, jazzy pieces.

Reflecting on his experience with music growing up in Fairmont, Head expressed gratitude for the exposure he got here.

“I think one of the coolest things about music in Fairmont is how the community comes and is so supportive. That’s definitely been one of the aspects that’s kept me going all these years– all of the support that everyone gives,” Head said.

Tickets for Saturday’s concert, which starts at 7 p.m., are $15 for adults and $8 for students and are available at Red Rock Center, Hy-Vee and online at redrockcenter.org.

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