Meet Michael Linert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Linert.

Michael, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I showed a passion for music and music education quite early in my life, from commenting to my mom about Aretha Franklin’s amazing skill from the backseat of my mom’s car at the ripe age of five to pursuing degrees in music education as well as cello, piano, and vocal performance, to various performances in Ecuador, France, Canada, and the United States.

Many of my early musical experiences were inspired by my older brother who sang in choirs, played the piano, and played in orchestra as a violist. I’ve always looked up to my brother, and for the most part, whatever he did, I wanted to try too. My mom also learned piano as an adult at the same time as my brother, which served as another wave of musical inspiration for me.

My pathway to becoming a music educator also began quite young as I was often found leading small vocal and orchestral groups in middle school, helping my high school orchestra teacher to teach beginning 5th-grade orchestra students, assisting for collegiate summer camps/festivals, and teaching private cello, voice, violin, and piano lessons. When I was in high school, one of my dreams was to lead an orchestra program of my own, and I now have the pleasure of serving the students of the Westminster Public Schools as director of Orchestras and Mariachi at Westminster High School, where I also serve as Department Chair of the Performing Arts. While we still have much room for growth to truly provide exemplary levels of music education to which we aspire, we have a “dream team” of educators, capable and creative students, and a broader community which supports and encourages a holistic education that includes the arts.

During the past five years my performance activities have become more limited due to time constraints of my teaching; however, I have enjoyed occasional performances collaborating with the Life/Art Dance Ensemble, Stratus Chamber Orchestra, and with Augustana Arts. I have also enjoyed creating some of my own compositions and engaging in street performance. In fact, about ten years ago, I first traveled to Denver to visit with a friend, and I performed Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 on the 16th Steet Mall over 50 times, meeting and interacting with many thoughtful, kind, and active people. Those experiences were a large part of what made moving to the Denver area so incredibly attractive to me.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course, I’ve experienced many letters of rejection, auditions that were not fruitful, and performances that did not inspire others as I had hoped. However, in every case, I have learned a great deal and been able to move forward to achieve my goals.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m a musician looking to connect with vibrant, passionate, loving people through performance and education. These people introduce themselves to me following performances in opera houses, concert halls, recital venues, schools, homes, and on various city streets. There is no experience quite like when I can vividly see my music resonate with others!

I most frequently sing and play cello, and my musical tastes vary from a very sparse, minimalist approach to music-making, such as pieces for solo cello, to the grand, spectacular approach, such as in operatic or orchestral performances. The music that I perform and teach is frequently from 1700-1900, some of my favorites being by J.S. Bach, Handel, and Dvorak, and I also enjoy composing my own works, typically in an introspective or humorous character.

In every style of performance, I am seeking to engage with others through common experiences. This requires openness and desire to connect from myself as well as my audience, and even with the greatest intentions, I find it a rare, exquisite experience to truly connect with someone in a lasting, memorable way. It is this elusive aspect of the human experience which I seek daily through my practice, performance, and teaching to move closer towards achieving my personal vision of “A world fully enriched by music.”

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Persistence – Although my interests and education have explored a reasonable amount of breadth, I have typically invested enough time in each domain to achieve a certain level of success before moving to other subjects. While I have experienced failure at various points throughout these experiences, I have continued to push forward with the help of many mentors, teachers, friends, and family to overcome barriers to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: michaellinert.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: mlinertin
• Facebook: MLinertFA

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