Daily Inspiration: Meet Jesse Henkensiefken

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Henkensiefken.

Hi Jesse, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My wife, Tatiana Tessman, and I started an International Music Festival together when we lived in Central Kansas. Once we moved to Eastern Kansas, we created the Mid America Performing Arts Alliance as a Not for profit organization.

We received our 501c3 status in May of 2020, so, unfortunately due to the pandemic, we could not program any events at that time. In February of 2022, we started our series – our first event took place at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, where the MAPAA Cello Choir, (consisting of myself, UMKC Cello Professor – Mike Mermagen, KU Cello Professor Emeritus – Ed Laut, & Wichita State University Cello Professor – Leonid Shukaev, performed a concert along with students from each of our studios.

Since then, we have performed concerts and offered students outreach in Kansas City, Lawrence, and Salina KS. We are currently putting the finishing touches on our 2022-23 season.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Mid America Performing Arts Alliance’s mission is to offer elite educationally-based classical music performances by world and regionally renown artists to underserved communities throughout the Midwest.

Key to these concert activities , MAPAA aims to enrich communities by providing learning opportunities including masterclasses, lectures, instrumental pettings, zoos, outreach concerts, and more.  We have seen that introducing young musicians to this caliber of musician and interacting with them inspires them to pursue their musical aspirations with more confidence.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Obviously, Covid has posed the biggest issue. After our delayed launch, we had to reschedule one event and will work to increase attendance at all our concerts as the public continues to find comfort in returning to live events.  We feel very positive based on the success of our start this past Spring.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Next season, we will have such acclaimed guest artists as Paul Neubauer, Stephanie Chase, and Daniel Veis to name a few.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mapaa.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapaacorp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAPAACORP/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/america_arts