Wes Hird
Coordinator of Piano Maintenance
Department of Music and Performing Arts
UNK

The Board of Regents is pleased to present a KUDOS award to Wes Hird, Coordinator of Piano Maintenance for the Department of Music and Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska at Kearney

Employed at UNK since 1985, Wes tunes and maintains all of the department’s 54 pianos – consistently achieving the highest professional standards as a registered piano technician.

Those who nominated Wes wrote this about him: “Dedicated, dependable, personable, a perfectionist, admired and respected by all who know him – Wes Hird is the epitome of professionalism in all that he has accomplished on behalf of UNK.”

But Wes isn’t just the area’s most prominent piano technician – Wes is also an accomplished and recognized musician. Known and renowned as a remarkable guitarist and bassist, and for his golden baritone singing voice, Wes may be the most recognized musician in Central Nebraska.

A fellow musician says: “Wes is the most naturally gifted musician and performer I’ve ever worked with. He has that inexplicable musical sense that is not learned off the written page, but seems to somehow burst forth in every musical phrase he plays. It’s both a joy and a privilege working with him.”

Wes is joined today by his wife, Jean; and his daughter, Betsy Warren. The Regents take pride and pleasure in presenting the KUDOS Award to Wes Hird.


Pictured: Pictured: daughter, Betsy Warren; Chancellor Kristensen; wife, Jean Hird; Wes Hird; and Regent Phares.