This semester, a visit to McKeldin Library probably also includes a low-key performance by a man who has garnered an on-campus name: Pan Flute Guy.
He stands beneath that large oak near the Testudo statue, tucked away just enough for passersby to hear his music but not locate him with a quick glance. The woodwind instrument he wields plays tunes that have been known to mesmerize students temporarily on their way to class.
“Who is that? Does he even go here?” asked Albright Okui, a freshman public health student. “I just have so many questions.”
She’s not alone. Many students find themselves wondering: Who is this majestic Pan Flute Man?
His name is Brian Sengelaub, and he’s a University of Delaware graduate. He now studies part time at the University of Maryland, taking postbaccalaureate Chinese classes. He picked up the pan flute about two years ago, when he found it on a regular perusal of Amazon.
“This one was made in Romania,” Sengelaub said of his nearly foot-long instrument. “It’s handcrafted, but I don’t know who made it.”
His friends named it Wilbur when he first started playing it, but Sengelaub doesn’t condone this.
His reason for playing is simple: “It’s relaxing.”
The songs he plays and the actual act of playing ease his day. He began performing at the top of McKeldin Mall when he started taking classes this past summer and needed something to pass time between Chinese lessons.
“I just thought, ‘Oh, this is nice,’” Sengelaub said.
He began gaining popularity on the campus before the school year even started.
“Over the summer, my Chinese professor asked me to learn the ‘Kangding Love Song,’ which is a Chinese folk song,” he said.
Sengelaub also plays the guitar and mandolin, but his real love is the pan flute, evident by his knowledge of its history.
“It’s probably the world’s oldest wind instrument,” Sengelaub said. “You can find it in Peru, China, Africa, Europe — it’s just all over the place. It’s really big in Romania, which is why they make so many of them.”
He chose the pan flute over other types of flute because he “can’t read sheet music,” so he plays everything by ear.
“It seemed like it would be the easiest to play since I can easily go from lower note to higher note,” he said.
All of his performances are thus composed of pieces he has either memorized or made up on the spot.
Passersby are often left to wonder what the etiquette is for a performance of this sort. Do you stand and stare or absorb it as you walk past?
“I don’t really have a preference,” Sengelaub said. “If they like it, then that’s fine.”
Ever wanted to start a jam session with him? It’s safe to just go for it.
“There was one guy who played the ukulele who started playing with me once,” Sengelaub said. “I haven’t seen him since, but it was fun.”
Later this week, he plans to have a few friends accompany him with guitars. True to form, there’s no plan for which songs they’ll perform.
“We’re just going to wing it,” Sengelaub said.
Even if class conflicts with what’s sure to be an incredible performance, have no fear. Pan Flute Guy and that majestic instrument of his have no plans of stopping anytime soon.
