Page 12 - Buzz Magazine - Issue 4 Fall 2022 | University of Rochester

PLAYING

FROM THE

HEART

Jefferson Svengsouk ’05S (MBA)

is a professor of emergency
medicine who also plays the
Native American flute

by KRISTINE KAPPEL THOMPSON

Photography by Matt Wittmeyer

Jefferson Svengsouk played a About 20 years later, Svengsouk Svengsouk took it all in,
silver flute in high school. He attended the Indigenous Music especially the music. The flute
loved it and thought he’d play & Arts Festival at Ganondagan captivated him. He wandered
in college, but the orchestra’s New York State Historic Site in around the festival on a quest
conductor had other plans. Victor, just a few miles southeast to learn more. He found a booth
“He thanked me for a ‘nice’ of Rochester. This annual that sold Native American flutes
performance and told me to summertime event showcases and bought his first one.
come back next year,” says Haudenosaunee and Indigenous
Svengsouk. “I got the point and cultures through dance, music, Playing the Native American flute
decided to put away my flute.” storytelling, a Native American complements Svengsouk’s work
arts market, and authentic craft as a professor of emergency
For a while, that is. demonstrations. medicine and a hospice and

12 | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHES TER BUZZ MA G AZINE