Mengel Brothers Duo

Earliest photo of the Mengel Brothers

Dana is six months old and being held by Les. The photo is in Estes Park, Co. and the Rock Mountain National Park

1965 - The brothers

The brothers Les and Dana (l-r) are with the family dog Shep

Circa 1976 - Performers

Les and Dana (l-r) are involved with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Les is the principal cellist and Dana is concert master

Circa 1966 - California dreaming

The family is driving to California to take older brother Phil to New York City to play on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour

1965 - The brothers

Dana and Les in the family backyard

1975 - Musical Family of the Year

The family is recognized for his musical talents. Mother Bea, Dana and Les (l-r)

Dana at six

This is Dana’s 6th birthday party.

Nature

The brothers enjoy some surprise lilies planted by their father Floyd in the backyard. It is a shared family love of nature

Dana and Les Mengel are younger brothers of a very talented, gifted musical family that played music together and took immense pleasure in nature.

The family grew up in Independence, Mo. Mother Beatrice (Bea) encouraged music in the house and was a well-known piano teacher.

In 1966, older brother Phil (then 16) appeared on the nationally syndicated Ted Mack Amateur Hour. Phil currently is violist in the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra.

Younger brothers Les and Dana formed the Mengel Brothers Duo and have been fixtures Sunday nights at the Chaz Restaurant and Lounge on the Country Club Plaza. The brothers entertain and enthrall hotel guests and regulars by performing from a play list of over 400 songs - many arranged by Les to be played on the violin and cello.

The extensive play list includes classical, rock, and popular music.

Have you ever heard Jimmy Webb’s song “Wichita Lineman” performed on cello and violin? You’re missing out.

And one you must hear is Les playing Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major.

And duo also perform some of Dana’s original compositions which can be heard on SoundCloud and recorded on their album “Inspired by Bingham” - pieces Dana wrote in response to paintings by the Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham.

Here’s a favorite which shows the interplay between the violin and cello which share a rapturous melody line. And here is a video of that same piece with the related Bingham painting.

Dana and Les both live in Independence and currently are sidelined as COVID-19 has closed Chaz and other restaurants and limiting live in person performances by all artists.

We anxiously (and cautiously) stay at home waiting. When next will we enjoy the immense pleasure of hearing the Mengel Brothers Duo play?

What should we request? There is so much we have missed.

Brent Schondelmeyer - April 2020