Newspaper Articles and Reviews.

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Teen-age pianist is making an impression on two continents. January 10, 2000. By ALLIE JOHNSON The Monitor McALLEN, Texas When Jose Luis Hernandez speaks, he unfolds his hands, his tapered fingers stretching as if searching for ivory keys. He punctuates his words by moving his foot now and then, as if stepping on a pedal. Sitting on a chair rather than a piano bench, the 16-year-old from Reynosa, Mexico seems as if he would be more at home on stage."I feel secure, very secure," he says about playing in front of an audience--something he has experienced many times in his 10 years as a pianist, from performances in Germany, to a recent piano recital at the McAllen Civic Center Auditorium. The whirlwind of performances, travel and contests has been almost nonstop for Hernandez since he had his first piano lesson at age 6 and learned how to play a piece called "Sweet Sorrow." "I look back, and I can't believe I was playing that at 6," he says. "It's a children's song, but at the same time it's very mature. It's so deep and so sweet." His mother, Angelina, says she knew he was different from the time he was very small."Since the beginning, he showed talent," she says, describing how he would memorize children's songs from records and sing to himself for hours. "He was always superactive." The ebullient young artist, with intense eyes and strong eyebrows, says he has channeled all of his energy into his music. "Whenever I play, whenever I am on stage, I feel that I have to express my innermost feelings and passions and try to get into the hearts of people," he says in slightly accented English. "I feel that a pianist is much like a poet." Connecting with the audience through the music is his reward. "What you are feeling...you've got to transmit it to the people," he said. "I've had this happen several times with the music of Chopin--that I had people come up to me at the end of the performance and say 'You made me cry.'" Such an emotional reaction is more fulfilling than hearing that his performance was "good" or even "great", Hernandez says. He says that every time he plays a particular piece of music it is different, depending on the setting, the audience, and his mood. His combination of talent, hard work and love for the music have earned him recognition both locally and internationally. At age ten, he was a soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, something he calls the turning point in his piano career. Last spring, he was the principal accompanist for the University of Texas at Brownsville "Bravo Opera Company." The director of the opera company, Amy Hymel Brownlow, says she never expected the then 15-year-old pianist to play along with the opera singers, especially for Carmen, which is very difficult."He came in there and he was just amazing." Hymel Brownlow says he was the youngest accompanist the opera company has had. "He has a rare gift to play very technically difficult music at such a young age," Hymel Brownlow says. For now, Hernandez attends Grace Christian School in Pharr, and though college is several years off, he is thinking of Juilliard in New York or Eastman in Rochester. His dream is to play with the New York Philharmonic. "Music is something that is going to be with me all my life," he says.
Piano prodigy to 'tickle the ivories' at Mcallen International Auditorium.January 5, 2001. By Jesus Beltran II The Monitor McAllen, Texas He might not be playing rock 'n' roll on stage, but 17-year-old Jose Luis Hernandez will have his hands on overdrive when he hits the stage of the McAllen Concert Hall in January. He'll be working the keys of his piano to bring to life the music of the old European masters like Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Haydn. Hernandez, a classical pianist, will be performing a the McAllen Civic Center on January 8 as part of Winter Stage. This prodigy has been practicing the piano since the age of six. By the age of ten, Hernandez was the youngest soloist to perform with the University of Tamaulipas Symphony Orchestra in Mexico. With regards of being to dedicated to his music, Hernandez said he makes an effort to strike a balance in his life between his music and his social life. "You have to have a balance that will enable you to coordinate these two things, the professional and the social. That's very important. In order to have a successful professional career, you need also focus on your social life." When asked about the negatives of being a good pianist, Hernandez answered,"You get a lot of attention. People are always complimenting you. I try to focus not on that, but more into being humble. It's very important when you are an artist to be humble because the mentality you're supposed to have is that you have to advance, you have to keep going no matter how good you are. You can be the greatest pianist and yet you still have much to learn." Hernandez a junior in high school, shares the credit for his success with his family and teacher. "I must be thankful the most for my family because they have been most supportive. Anything I need, I'm sure I can count on them. If I wouldn't have them, I wouldn't be here right now. It's like a triangle. The student, the teacher and the parents." he said.
El Manana Reynosa, Mexico. Eduardo Sanchez July 28, 2001 "...amazed the audience with his exquisite sensibility."
Kultur Furth, Germany. Matthias Boll August 8, 1997 "...played with sharp precision and formative feeling."
Star-Telegram, Wayne Lee Gay. June 27, 2000 "...the jolting energy of the work ( Bach Piano Concerto) emerged readily...a potential star."