OMEA 2022 Distinguished Service Award

Presented To Mark A. Hensler

2023 OMEA Professional Development Conference

Friday, February 3, 2023 - 7:30 pm

Hyatt Regency Ballroom - Columbus, Ohio

Introductory Speech by Kathy McGrady

Good evening! It surely is a great pleasure and honor to be here tonight to present the 2022 Distinguished Service Award. I want to begin by thanking the members of Da Capo (OMEA Past Presidents) for their dedication and promoting the high standards that make OMEA a great organization supporting music education in Ohio.

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor presented by the Ohio Music Education Association. Each year nominations for the DSA are solicited from the OMEA membership. Each application is vetted by members of Da Capo, and a winner is selected.

The recipient of the DSA Award must have demonstrated, evidence of success as an outstanding teacher. They must show evidence of service to the music education profession. And lastly, they must demonstrate evidence of distinguished contributions to the music education profession through such activities as achieving prominence as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, author, performer; and receiving educational or community-based awards/recognition.

With all that said, this year’s recipient has accomplished all the above and more. He has given outstanding service to music education and has made a significant difference in the lives of others through distinguished leadership as a music educator.

I’m very excited to introduce to you the 2022 OMEA Distinguished Service Award recipient, Mark A. Hensler!

We would like to recognize and thank Gayley Hautzenroeder, a former colleague and dear friend who nominated Mark; his lovely wife of 38 years, Jenni, and Mark and Jenni’s three talented children – Mark Jr., Hannah, and Madeline.

Gayley mentioned that “he would walk through fire for Jenni, son, Mark, Jr., and daughters Hannah and Maddie. A lovely family in every way and all 3 children have continued the “Hensler” music tradition”. Mark, Jr. an architect and bassoonist, Hannah, an aspiring actress and oboist, who is also involved in children theater productions and Maddie, a senior at Kent State majoring in Fashion Merchandising, who is proud of the fact that she is the only other low brass player in the family, a trombonist.

Mark is a devoted husband and father! Jenni and Mark were married on September 1, 1984. The same week that they started teaching at Northwest Local Schools. Mark was worried about missing the first football game to go to their rehearsal dinner.

Mark received his Bachelor of Music Education from Morehead State University, KY, where he studied with Dr. Earle L. Louder. He also holds an MBA from Miami University, Oxford, OH.

Mark joined the instrumental music department at Northwest Local School District (Cincinnati, OH) in the fall of 1984, where he spent his entire 36-year career, retiring in the spring of 2020. Unfortunately, because of Covid, he was unable to have a final concert with his students which, in typical Hensler programing was going to include an Elvis impersonator!

For twenty-four of those years he was the Band Director at Pleasant Run Middle School earning 30 Superior ratings at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Adjudicated Events, (including a run of 19 consecutive years), and his Pleasant Run Middle School Band was selected to perform at the 2014 OMEA State Professional Development Conference held in Columbus.

Mark dedicated 36 years to inspire his students be excellent musicians and the best version of themselves. Mark’s ability to inspire students to the highest levels of excellence, while also connecting to them personally is what made him stand out in our profession. His students consistently display exemplary fundamentals, outstanding musicianship, love and appreciation for music and performance.

One of the many programs that Mark was very proud to have instituted while teaching was the National Association for Music Education’s National Anthem Project. Every year for 10 years 1000+ students at Pleasant Run Middle School would practice and then come together to sing the National Anthem. This included EVERY Staff member and student. Each year Mark would try to incorporate something new; for example, one year having the flag brought in by parachute.

Mark is an outstanding musician! He has performed with the Sounds of Sousa Band, National Community Band, Frank Simon Band, The Cincinnati Wind Band, The River’s Edge Brass Band, Bavarian’s German Band, the Yuletide Brass Quartet, and appears frequently as a soloist with school and community groups in the Greater Cincinnati area. Mark was also a founding member of the Cincinnati Brass Band where he served as euphonium soloist and assistant director, 1995-2007.

Mark is truly a scholar of Marches and older band music. Over the years, Mark has accumulated one of the largest private libraries of band music in southern Ohio. He has been known to “rescue” music that was going to be thrown away or destroyed!

Mark’s favorite band is “The President’s Own”! He can tell you about the band from the days of John Phillip Sousa to the present. He is truly a fan, and friends and family know that he really enjoys and appreciates this band, its history, and musicians, and especially their clean and precise performances of band music.

Mark is a collector of many musical antiques, instruments, and memorabilia. He has old records, record players, a player piano with many old piano rolls, that he listens to and plays them all! Mark is an avid music collector of books on band history, 78 records, over 450 piano rolls, classic radios, a victrola, a jukebox and well over 900 band arrangements and euphonium solos.

Mark is currently director of the Ohio Military Band. A group of non-professional band members from ages 16 - 97, proving that “Music Does Last a Lifetime”. Can you imagine Mark in a rehearsal with this group, with his incredible sense of humor and wit? No doubt, there’s a lot of fun music-making at those rehearsals and concerts under Mark’s baton and I am sure that they play well.

A quote from the oldest member of the band: “Only a wonderful person as you, would keep this old 97 trumpeter in the Ohio Military Band. You have made these final days a great experience.”

Mark volunteers his time on Sundays at his church as a Lay Leader and runs the AV equipment for the services. And if that is not enough, he is a Member of the Ohio Free and Accepted Masons and also the Scottish Rite Masons.

Anybody that knows Mark, knows he has wonderful wit and a keen sense of humor! He’s a terrific “punster”! It’s always fun to get into a “pun war” with him. One pun moves to another, and he ALWAYS wins! He makes everybody laugh with his play on words. When he makes a pun, he waits a second to see if you get it, then laughs with you!

Since retiring, in addition to his OMEA responsibilities he has joined the River’s Edge Brass Band, the Otterbein Choir, and a tuba/Euphonium quartet yet to be named. Some names that they are considering are, “Low Down,” “Basic Instinct,” or “Low Expectations.” Mark’s dedication to OMEA is unbelievable!

He has served OMEA and music education in Ohio throughout his career. Da Capo member, Marcus Neiman, states in his nomination of support letter, “the depth of his professional commitment to OMEA demonstrates his strong belief in giving back to those who serve our students and school districts”.

Mark’s leadership roles in the Ohio Music Education Association include: State President, State Secretary, District President, Conference Chair, Large Group AE Chair, Ohio Foundation Music Education Secretary, Leadership Academy Chair, Conference Registration Chair, Adjudicator, Constitution Committee Chair, Member of the Futures Advisory Committee, and Honor Band Chair.

Since 2014 Mark has been OMEA’s Director of Professional Development and Conference Management, or as our OMEA members fondly know it as the PDC. His responsibilities include team management, proposal selection, contract management, establishing metrics, communicating with clinicians, ensemble conductors, facilities staff, OMEA members, sponsors, adjunct organizations, and scheduling nearly 300 events annually, including concerts, clinics, and special presentations.

Needless to say, Mark has been instrumental, along with Roger Hall, Jay Wardeska, and our talented OMEA Staff, in building the OMEA Professional Development Conference into what it is today, the third largest music conference in the United States! That definitely is worth repeating: The Third Largest Music Conference in the United States!

Roger Hall, Executive Director of the Ohio Music Education Association Emeritus wrote: “Mark exemplifies the core value of the OMEA Staff – Whatever it takes! His commitment to the membership is inspirational and the OMEA membership is the beneficiary of his unselfish service, unparalleled work ethic and vast experience as a music educator and accomplished performer.”

In Gayley Hautzenroeder’s nomination letter she wrote: “Mark is always learning; always teaching; always giving; and always caring. Mark is true professional; a humble person; a talented musician; a gentleman and a scholar.”

To quote one of Mark’s former students, Avi Kaufman: “Thousands of students, musicians, and music educators have benefitted from having Mark Hensler in their lives. Even though he is retired he continues to make a difference and brings that same dedication he has had for as long as I’ve known him”.

Finally, on a personal note, I would like to add that Mark has enriched the lives of so many through his teaching, friendship and mentorship. He continues to, put his whole heart and soul into his community, his music and his family. I am so fortunate to call him a dear friend and colleague. I can think of no one more deserving of the OMEA “Distinguished Service Award”.

Please help me welcome to the podium, the 2022 Ohio Music Education Association’s “Distinguished Service Award” recipient, Mark A. Hensler!