Arts Daily / Koger Center Presents Live in the Lobby Jazz: Pianist Spike Wilner

Koger Center Presents Live in the Lobby Jazz: Pianist Spike Wilner

Spike Wilner started playing piano at an early age. Inspired by a television program about the life of Scott Joplin, he learned to play ragtime music. He pursued this art form throughout high school and performed Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” at the St. Louis Ragtime Festival. Although it was an unofficial appearance, it nonetheless profoundly affected him and drove him to pursue a career in music. In his high school jazz program he met pianist Peter Martin who introduced him and inspired him to learn more modern jazz.