Professor Eric Brisson, a talented pianist and music teacher at Winona State University, gave a great performance at his annual recital that impressed the audience. The recital, held in the university’s theater, showed off his piano skills and emotion. For Brisson, this recital wasn’t just for his students; it was also a chance for him to reconnect with the music he loves. His program included a tough Brahms piece along with another one that worked well with it. The event attracted an excited crowd of students, teachers, and local people, all eager to hear Brisson play. His music seemed to take everyone in the room to another world.
After the recital, Brisson sat down to talk about his love for music and how he decided to pursue it as a career. He explained that music has always been part of his life, from childhood through adulthood. “I’m in music as a profession, but I’ve always loved music since I was a kid.” Brisson said.
For Brisson, becoming a musician felt natural. Music was not just a hobby but his passion. Sharing that passion with students is one of the best parts of his job. As a professor at Winona State University, he performs a recital every year, which helps him stay sharp and provides an opportunity for students to see him perform. He believes performing helps him grow as a musician, making him a better teacher and inspiring his students to progress.
Brisson explained, ” I do one faculty recital every year, and it has a few purposes. One of it is to for faculty to perform, for our own music students, to let me see us perform. Another purpose is to keep me in shape, I do a lot of accompaniments, so doing the more challenging stuff helps keep me in shape” He didn’t forget to add that he enjoys it as well.
For this year’s recital, Brisson performed Brahms’ Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 and Bach’s Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813. Brahms’ music is complex and emotional, and Brisson admitted that it was a challenge as he doesn’t play Brahms often. “The Brahms tonight was a challenge because I don’t play Brahms too often, and it’s not a style that comes naturally for me, so That was part of the challenge”
Brisson’s performance was mesmerizing, and the audience could feel music whether it was intense or quiet moments. He also shared that he doesn’t always select pieces for a specific theme but chooses based on what feels right. “I often don’t have too many specific reasons for picking pieces. I go by instinct. I just felt like playing drums. It had been almost 20 years since I had played with big Brahms work, and I just felt like it.”
To balance the long Brahms piece, Brisson started the recital with a lighter, shorter piece, Bach’s Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813, which gave a nice contrast before going into the emotional depth of Brahms. ” I needed something that complimented Brahms because the Brahms was 40 minutes. I needed something that would extend the recital and counterbalance it in a nice way, and would be a good way to start so that I could be in the right setting for the Brahms. So, it (Bach’s Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813) was just a good compliment, and, of course, a great piece on its own,” he explained.
One of the most memorable parts of Brisson’s performance was how his face and body showed the feelings of the music. During the intense parts, he looked serious and focused, while in softer moments, his expression relaxed. When asked if he practiced his expressions, Brisson laughed and said, “no, I don’t. I Certainly don’t. I try to put myself in the space when I can react, and then the expressions are a result of that.”
During the recital, the audience accidentally started clapping, thinking the performance was over. Brisson smiled and kept playing and the audience realized it wasn’t finished. When asked what he was thinking in that moment, Brisson said, “I was just acknowledging their applauds and staying focused.”
When Brisson finished, the audience gave him a standing ovation. He smiled, bowed, and left the stage, but the applause continued. He returned for another bow, and many people gathered to thank him afterward. Winona State University President Janz Kenneth appreciated Brisson, saying, “Winona State is so fortunate to have such talented faculty like Eric.” He then proceeded to acknowledge Brisson’s work by saying, “First on, it’s just amazing. I mean, to me, it’s one thing just to play that music, which was fantastic, but then to load her all up and memorize it the way he does. it’s just amazing. You’re just so blown away by the quality of the performance.”
The recital was a huge success, and the audience filled with college students to senior citizens were visibly moved by Brisson’s performance. Brisson brought the play to life with his emotion and passion. It showed his skills and grace and his love for music. At the end, the applause and standing ovation showed how much everyone appreciated his performance. Brisson’s talent and dedication to his music made the recital very special.
