'My hero is the piano,' says L.A.-based performance artist who grew up in rural North Dakota

FARGO — Keeping an auditorium full of middle school students focused can be a daunting challenge, but pianist and performance artist David Snyder was up to the task.

Snyder, who grew up on a farm near Grand Forks, is now based in Los Angeles, and during his tour he is stopping at area schools as part of his outreach to encourage students to give the arts a chance.

During a concert for students at Ben Franklin Middle School on Monday, April 7, Snyder described the piano as a way to tell his story. “Every story has a hero. My hero is the piano,” he said from on stage.

“I’ve always been passionate about working with kids and showing the piano as part of joy and fun and expression,” Snyder told The Forum. He’s performing on Thursday, April 10 in Dilworth at Tak Music Venue and Friday at Kindred Performing Arts Center. He’ll also be in Northwood on Saturday performing at the Northwood Performing Arts Center.

Anna Paige is a photojournalist, writer, poet and artist with a penchant for storytelling. She’s the Photo Editor at the Forum and moved to Fargo in 2024 after spending two decades in Montana where she worked as a journalist for several statewide outlets.