FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20 , 2017 9:00 a.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429

 
Peru, Nebraska – Violinist, co-founder of Street Symphony and mental health issue activist Vijay Gupta will speak on campus as part of Peru State’s 2016-2017 Distinguished Speaker Series.

Gupta will be on Peru State campus on March 27 at 7 p.m. to share his life story. The public is welcome to attend this free event.

Gupta has performed internationally as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician since he was eight. He debuted with the Israel Philharmonic at age eleven and joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic when he turned 19.

Gupta has an undergraduate degree in pre-med biology and a master’s degree in music from Yale. The University of La Verne in California presented an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to Gupta when he was 27. Currently, he is earning a Ph.D. in community psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Not only is Gupta known for his musical talents, but he is a renowned activist for mental health issues. Gupta has worked for many research projects about spinal cord neuronal regeneration, neurodegenerative biology, and the biochemical pathology of Parkinson’s disease.

Mostly fascinated by the connection between mental health and music, Gupta believes music can be a strong redemptive and regenerative power in the body.

Also, Gupta is a co-founder and director of Street Symphony, a musical program that engages marginalized communities, such as the homeless, mentally ill and those who are incarcerated.

For more information, visit www.peru.edu or 1-800-742-4412.

Vijay Gupta with violin.

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Ashley Peiman contributed to this release.