Minnesota pianist named Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Kenneth Broberg to perform at MSUM

Thursday, Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Gaede Stage

When the young American pianist Van Cliburn won the first Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1958, it resulted in unprecedented celebrity for an American concert pianist. Cliburn’s international victory instilled a fresh sense of artistic pride in many Americans, while opening the door to a new era of cultural relations between East and West. 

Following the victory, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was established to perpetuate Van Cliburn’s unique legacy of demonstrating how classical music, in the hands of a master, has the appeal to reach across all borders.

The 15th Van Cliburn competition took place during several competitive rounds in May and June in Fort Worth, Texas. Minnesota native Kenneth Broberg, 23, won the Silver Medal. He performs Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m., on the Gaede Stage in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts on the MSUM campus.

A Minnesota native and the first musician in his family, Broberg started piano lessons at age 6, when he became fascinated by his mother’s upright—a wedding gift from her parents. He studied for nine years with Joseph Zins in Minneapolis before entering the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with Nancy Weems in 2016. He currently resides in Parkville, Mo., under the guidance of 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University.

The evening performance includes works by Franck, Bach, Barber and Liszt. The event is the second of four in this season’s Cheryl Nelson Lossett Performing Arts Series. Broberg will also briefly perform at a free event set for 11 a.m. on the Gaede Stage, but he will mainly talk about his experiences and answer questions from the audience.

To purchase tickets, go to www.mnstate.edu/perform or call the MSUM Box Office at (218) 477-2271 Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $28 for adults, $24 for seniors and $12 for students with student ID. Tickets are also available at the door.