Wayne State College instructor Michael Genslinger will perform several pieces at a solo recital Oct. 9, at 7:30 pm in Ramsey Theatre.
Genslinger, who is in his third year of teaching at WSC, will be accompanied by Shelly Armstrong at the recital.
Genslinger leads many ensembles in the Fine Arts building, including but not limited to: Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band and assists with the marching band. He also teaches several music education courses including history of jazz, fundamentals of conducting, practicum and several others.
“I like the impact that I have on future music teachers,” Genslinger said.
The trumpet player performs with several other instruments. These include a variety of brass instruments except for the tuba, any woodwind instrument except for the flute, and many percussion instruments. Genslinger previously taught voice and choir.
Genslinger will be playing three pieces for the concert: Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, a few movements in Hummel’s ‘Trumpet Concerto in E flat’ and La’igoo tádiíya’h Passages: a Native American piece.
“I’m most looking forward to playing ‘Rhapsody in Blue,” Genslinger said. “I’ve always wanted to play it, but I was never afforded the opportunity to play it before.”
The Gershwin piece has elements of jazz, and was originally written for an orchestra and piano. Hummel’s “Concerto” was written in 1803, and was one of the first classical concertos for the modern trumpet.
The Native American piece was commissioned in 2022 by the International Trumpet Guild. It features a recording of several instruments as accompaniment including the Native Flute, the Eagle Bone and several different rattles; the performance will also have a video going along with the song that includes Native American dances and pictures of several western states and landmarks.
Genslinger says one of his favorite things about faculty recitals is the accompanist who joins him on stage. “She is a treat and a treasure for this institution.” he said, “The fact that we have a full-time professional accompanist is a really big deal,”
He also enjoys being able to perform for fun, not for an academic requirement. “I get to do it for the pure enjoyment of doing something that I want to do,” Genslinger says.
Several people are looking forward to seeing Genslinger’s recital, including Dr. Joshua Calkin.
“He is a real artist on his instrument,” Calkin said. “This is a good opportunity to hear some really good music.”
Calkin was one of the people that helped hire Genslinger several years ago when a position was open. “We were very fortunate to bring him here because he was pretty much perfect in every sense of the word.” Calkin said.
Calkin and Genslinger play together in several ensembles. These include the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, the Nebraska Brass Band, Crazy 8’s Brass Band, The Northeast Area Jazz Band in Norfolk and occasionally A Touch of Brass. Yet, Calkin only gets to hear Genslinger play by himself once or twice a year.
“One of the things about the Wayne community is that they might not understand if they are not exposed to it is that our faculty are world-class musicians,” Calkin said. “Anybody that comes is going to find something they are going to enjoy.”
Genslinger fondly remembers what got him interested in music in the first place. He had heard a friend in fourth grade play the Star-Spangled Banner, and immediately begged his parents for a trumpet. After a year, his grandfather passed down his trumpet to Genslinger; he still has it today.
Sometimes, Genslinger misses being able to teach music to the youth. This semester, he has been able to teach part-time at Allen schools two days a week for Pre-K through 4th grade music.
“I’m glad that I was able to help them out and give those younger kids a chance to have music, at least for this semester,” he says, “It’s been really enlightening.”
Genslinger also encourages people to pursue their passions. “If you are wanting to pursue and get into being a musician, or doing anything at a high level,” he said, ”you have to enjoy the process and be willing to put in the work and the effort and understand that it’s not always going to be fun, but it’s always going to be worth it.”