Music of the Mountains: Where to be and what to see -- Michael Lenssen

Michael Lenssen (also known as Mickey Lenny) is a multi-instrumentalist and composer currently based in Denver. He plays trumpet, cornet, and multiple synthesizer-based instruments (including the Electric Wind Instrument), but he didn’t start out on those instruments.

His brother, two years older than him, started playing the violin when he was about five, and Lenny quickly followed suit. Lenny played violin for about ten years, and towards the end of his time playing the instrument, he started getting into improvisational music such as jazz and Brazilian music. He started playing the trumpet in fifth grade, sticking with that instrument all the way through high school.

Throughout this time, there were a few local musicians who inspired him along the way. He grew up close to Paul Erhard, currently a professor of double bass at the University of Colorado Boulder.

At the time Lenny was growing up, Erhard was part of the Colorado Conservatory of Jazz Arts. Lenny participated in programs there from middle through high school, which led him through some of his first performance opportunities.

He also earned a Jazz & Contemporary Music degree at the University of Miami (and, as a local connection, even taught ski lessons at Eldora during high school).

Thank you for listening to The Mountain-Ear Podcast, featuring the news and culture from peak to peak!

If you want to be featured in the podcast, contact the host at media@themountainear.com!

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE and use the coupon code PODCAST for A 10% DISCOUNT for ALL NEW SUBSCRIBERS! Subscribe at https://www.themtnear.com/subscribe!

You can find us online by visiting https://www.themtnear.com!
Find us on Facebook @mtnear!
Share this podcast around!! Scroll near the bottom of our website's homepage or visit the podcast's main hub at https://themtnearpodcast.buzzsprout.com!

You can contact our editor at info@themountainear.com!

Thank you for listening!