Jerry Minar
Hall of Fame – 1996
Jerry Minar of New Prague, Minnesota has played the concertina professionally for decades. He is one of the best concertina players and teachers in the world having taught over 275 students.
Jerry has promoted the concertina by setting up huge concertina displays at concertina events and festivals. He regularly performs at all the large concertina festivals from New Prague to Gibbon and has the distinction of playing in the White House for one of President Bill Clinton’s inaugural balls.
He purchased Anton Wolfe’s concertina business after working for him for 17 years. In 1995, Minar began working under the careful guidance of Christy Hengel to learn how to make the fine Hengel instrument. Satisfied that Jerry had mastered the ability to continue making the Hengel Concertina to his standards, Christy agreed to sell the Hengel name, manufacturing business, parts inventory, and specialized machinery to Minar in 1997. Minar continues to manufacture the Hengel Concertina today.