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University of Wyoming

Dr. Larry Hensel, Lyric Baritone
Vocal Arts Studio


(307) 766-6376
lhensel@uwyo.edu

Dr. Larry L. Hensel is currently coordinator of the Vocal Arts Area and Director of Opera Theatre and founder of their new Program for Young Audiences, Opera in a Gym. Dr. Hensel is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. He has begun to integrate the Alexander Technique into the Department’s curriculum, and is currently accepting private students who are interested in this life-changing work.

A native Iowan, Dr. Hensel began his musical education at the Interlochen Arts Academy; he then received his B.A. in Music from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He began his professional musical career by becoming one of the youngest members of the Dale Warland Singers. Hensel furthered his academic career by earning the D.M.A. and the M.M. in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he also earned the prestigious Performer's Certificate.

A dedicated recitalist with over 350 art songs in his current repertoire, Dr. Hensel performed with acclaimed artistic collaborator Martin Katz at UW in 2005. Dr. Hensel took part in a complete, staged performance of Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch at the Songfest Festival in Los Angeles where he also coached with Martin Katz. He was invited back to Eastman to perform a lecture recital with Music Theory Professor Dr. Steven Laitz on Schumann's Liederkreis on the School's Samuel Adler Lecture Series on "What Makes Music Great?"

Possessing a flair for comedy, he made his European opera debut in a comprimário role in a rare performance of Shostakovich's opera The Nose, at the Spoleto Festival, Spoleto, Italy. Dr. Hensel returned to Spoleto to sing another comprimário role in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Saint of Bleecker Street, directed by the composer, which was subsequently recorded live on the British Chandos label.

He has appeared regionally with Opera Ft. Collins in their productions of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music (Fredrik) and Bernstein’s Candide (Maximillian). And at UW he has sung and directed UWSO’s staged concert versions of Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte (Don Alfonso) and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale (Dr. Malatesta). Hensel has also performed roles with Nashville Opera and Tennessee Opera Theatre.

Equally dedicated to the realm of musical theatre, Hensel created the role of “Basil,” in the world premiere of the musical Dorian Gray with Open Stage Theatre in Ft. Collins, CO. He also appeared as “Frederik,” in their production of A Little Night Music, and created the title role of “Monet” in the world-premiere of the musical, Impression: Monet.

On the concert stage, Dr. Hensel as appeared as soloist with the UWSO and UW Chamber Orchestra in Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s St. John Passion, Dvořák’s Te Deum and Solo Cantatas Ich will den Kreuzastab gerne tragen and Ich habe genug. He has appeared with the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra as soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Vaughan-Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and several of their Orchestra Pop Concerts. He has been a frequent guest artist with the Nashville Symphony in such diverse works as Schönberg's Survivor from Warsaw, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs and Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.

Dr. Hensel is a member of NATS, and a former President and Web Master for the Colorado/Wyoming NATS Chapter. He is also a member of the National Opera Association, the College Music Society, and is a teaching member of Alexander Technique International.

Dr. Hensel is available for Master classes and Workshops on the following subjects:

  • The Alexander Technique: A Guide to the Living Body (An Introductory Workshop to the principals of the Alexander Technique and its benefits for the performing artist).

  • Guest Opera and Musical Theatre Directing (for a DVD sample of his work, please contact him via email).

  • An All-American Recital Program with Mezzo-soprano, Dr. Katrina Zook

  • Art Song Recitals featuring such works as: Ravel's Histoires Naturelles, Beethoven's An die ferne Geliebte, Selections from Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch, British and American Art Songs, and selections from the American Musical Theatre Repertoire.

  • Lecture/Recital on such topics as: "Use of Quotation in the Songs of Charles Ives," and "Motific Development as Interpreter of Textual Imagery in Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch."

  • Master Classes at all levels. (Classical and Musical Theatre Repertoire, and Acting for Singers).

Links:

Singing

Vocal Sheet Music and Scores

Music Libraries

Song and Aria Translations

Musical Theatre Links

Regional Opera Links

Alexander Technique

Diction

Dry Throat