Kansas University

New trumpet instructor joins KU music faculty

Steve Leisring will bring more than 15 years of professional experience and 20 years of teaching experience to Kansas University when he takes his post this fall as trumpet professor.

Leisring formerly held an assistant principal trumpet position with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra in Canary Islands, Spain. He has performed as a soloist with various chamber ensembles and has played with orchestras in Sweden and Spain.

Leisring received music education and performance degrees in 1986 and 1987 from the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton and a master’s degree in music performance at New York’s Mannes College of Music in 1989.

For more information on Leisring’s appointment, call the Department of Music and Dance at 864-3436.

Former viola professor returns to area for recital

Former Kansas University viola professor Michael Kimber will perform some of his own compositions during “Kimber Plays Kimber: A Recital of New Music for Solo Viola” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at University United Methodist Church, 1621 S.W. College Ave. in Topeka.

Kimber taught at KU for 20 years, beginning in 1979, before leaving to join the faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Music. He was formerly a member of the Kronos Quartet, the Atlanta Virtuosi and other chamber ensembles. He was the principal violist for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and he still performs with Kansas City’s Summerfest chamber music series. He is the series’ composer-in-residence this season.

Thursday’s recital is free and open to the public. For more information call (785) 969-9303.