Dr. Larry Hensel

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. 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, Dr. Hensel was invited to sing on NYU's Samuel Barber Centennial Celebration Concert, with Dr. Grant Wenaus, piano. He performed with acclaimed artistic collaborator Martin Katz at UW and 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.

Possessing a flair for comedy, he made his European opera debut in a comprimrio 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 comprimrio 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 Verdi's La Traviata (Dottore Grenvil), Mozart's Cos fan tutte (Don Alfonso) and Donizetti's Don Pasquale (Dr. Malatesta). Hensel has also performed roles with Nashville Opera and Tennessee Opera Theatre.

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.  Opera in a Gym is now a member of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA, a subsidiary of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences.