Swiss Jazz musician to hold benefit concert at BHS

by Charles Gerian

Swiss pianist Silvan Zingg will perform an exclusive benefit concert for local student musicians on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in the Blackwell High School Auditorium.

Zingg is described as a “boogie woogie, blues, and jazz pianist” on his official website, http://www.silvanzingg.com. According to his biography, he has performed with legendary musicians B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Carlos Santana, and George Benson, among others. Zingg travels around the world performing at highly-rated venues, teaching masterclass piano workshops, and giving lectures at universities and schools. 

His mission is “to inspire young people to discover music and follow their dreams.”

Zingg himself was drawn into music at an early age, watching and listening to his father playing the piano. Since then, he has founded the International Boogie Woogie Festival in his home of Lugano, Switzerland. 

“We are very honored and privileged to have an artist like Silvan Zingg travel here from Switzerland to perform for us,” said Susan Jones, the woman who organized the event. “People won't want to miss the opportunity to hear this extraordinary piano prodigy's first-class entertainment right here in America's Hometown!” 

Adult tickets for the event are $20. There is no admission charge for those ages 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling Jones at 580-363-4532 or by e-mailing her at sukisupreme77@gmail.com.

Tickets may also be purchased at the following locations in Blackwell: BancFirst, Stride Bank, RCB Bank, the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce, the Blackwell Journal-Tribune, the Top of Oklahoma Museum, and the Iron Horse restaurant.