YES! Weekly — September 24, 2025 by YES! Weekly

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SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2025 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 39 WSFW 2025

3 “ OUT AT THE MOVIES,” WinstonSalem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series and film festival, will present its 12th annual international festival Oct. 2-5 at venues throughout Winston-Salem...

4 CHARLIE KIRK’s life was replete with irony. He was a college dropout who became the intellectual leader for a generation of college kids.

5 In football parlance, the fact-based, faith-based sports drama THE SENIOR doesn’t exercise unnecessary roughness to get its upbeat message across.

8 Nikita Wallace, who founded WINSTON-SALEM FASHION WEEK 11 years ago, says that this year’s runway shows are going to dazzle the Camel City with dandyism.

10 On Friday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m., the UNITED WAY of Greater High Point celebrated its 90th Anniversary serving Jamestown, High Point, Archdale, and Trinity with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the impact that United Way of Greater High Point has made in the last 90 years.

14 There are guitarists who play, and then there are guitarists who feel like entire orchestras wrapped in a single body. VICKI GENFAN belongs to the latter category — a musician whose hands seem to translate rhythm, melody, and harmony into a continuous, surprising conversation.

Full speed ahead for 12th annual “OUT at the Movies” ﬁlm festival

“OUT at the Movies,” Winston-Salem’s popular LGBTQ+ screening series and film festival, will present its 12th annual international festival Oct. 2-5 at venues throughout Winston-Salem, boasting a bevy of screenings, parties, special events, and special guests. This year’s event features 40 films (features and shorts) and will host over 30 filmmakers. In addition to individual tickets, festival flex passes are $40 apiece, and festival passes are $60 apiece. For a complete schedule of events, visit https://outatthemovies.org/the-12th-annual-outat-the-movies-international-festival/.

“Every year we accept submissions from filmmakers around the world who have made films showcasing the LGBTQ+ experience, either through a film’s plot or its characters,” explained Max Cullen, director of operations and marketing for the festival. “From the submissions we receive, we keenly select only the very best examples of cinema from filmmakers who are pushing the boundaries of what the art form has historically meant, and what kinds of stories have historically been told. The panel discussions, parties, and receptions that we host outside of these screenings are a natural — and really fun — o shoot from that, because it’s a chance to get together and better understand a film you just saw, or get to know a filmmaker who made something you enjoyed, or just to see old friends and make new ones. That’s been the formula of our festival for 11 years, and we’re proudly staying true to that this year.”

Festival Director Rex Welton is pleased by this year’s selection of films. “It seems that the quality of our submissions and selected films continues to get better each year,” he observed. “In 2025, we had over 100 submissions directly from filmmakers and another 150-plus from domestic and international distributors.”

Welton is particularly excited that the festival will present the world premiere of the documentary feature No Closet Space: The History of Gay Key West, which will be screened at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the UNCSA ACE Theatre Complex on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main Street. “It is only the second world premiere of a feature in our festival’s history,” he noted.

The festival kicks o on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Porter Byrum Welcome Center on the campus at Wake Forest University, 1850 Wake Forest Road, with “Festival Preview Night,” a selection of short ﬁlms followed by a panel discussion and a complimentary post-screening reception. Admission to this event is free.

“Our organization is proud to put on events like

our annual festival, because it’s a chance for people from all walks of life to see their experiences reflected on screen,” Cullen said. “That was one of our founding motivations in 2004, to use the power of cinema to bring people together, start conversations, and deepen our understanding of one another. This year, we’re putting on four days of screenings and parties that will showcase 40 new films from around the world, bring 35 filmmakers to Winston-Salem, and use art to spark countless conversations. It’s really a special weekend for anyone in the Triad area to come together and experience films on the cutting edge of cinema, meet amazing creative people, and get to know one another better. We need that kind of thing right now, and we’re proud to play a part in making it happen.”

Cullen’s sentiments are seconded by Tim Dahms, the director of No Closet Space. “I think it’s more important than ever,” he said. “I never thought I’d actually see society actually moving backwards in terms of attitudes and acceptance. It’s very troubling to me. I’m even more troubled about the signiﬁcant lack of empathy and kindness in our society today. I think it’s a result of news and entertainment networks that proﬁt from outrage, fear, and opinion a rmation. I haven’t attended the festival before. I am aware of its reputation through others who have been there, and I’m very much looking forward to being a part of it.”

That his directorial debut would be selected to have its world premiere here was gratifying to Dahms. “Key West has a lot of interest out there, especially as it relates to the gay community,” he said, “and the amount of history here is surprising. Everyone knows about Key West being a gay mecca in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s — but many people may not be aware that folks like Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Truman Capote, Gore Vidal, and Calvin Klein regularly hung out here. They’d haunt the local clubs, and it was not unusual to see them around. Also, there were amazing entertainers who appeared in local clubs, for instance Cher, Madonna, Grace Jones, and more, all played here in Key West

during that era. Going through the ﬁlm and editing it was like entering a time machine.

“I put together something I thought was good and interesting, and I was very pleased with it, but once other folks saw it, I was extremely heartened and, yeah, somewhat surprised at the reaction. Folks here in Key West contacted the ‘OUT at the Movies’ festival because they were impressed, and Rex contacted me … and the rest is history.”

In the end, “I’d like the film to do some good,” Dahms said. “To open some eyes of people who may have had their opinions in a negative way in the current zeitgeist. I always thought it would be entertaining and interesting, but in these times, it’s taken on an added significance, much like the festival. It’s an opportunity to present our community in a fair and positive light — something that’s been severely lacking lately, sadly, in the mainstream. Also, I want people to laugh. There’s some really funny stu here. There are some crazy stories of old Key West, not just of the community but of the town itself. This was quite a place in the ‘70s as one of my interviewees said, ‘Key West didn’t have rules.’ That’s a fascinating insight that’s part of the film.”

“We hope folks come and see ﬁlms,” Cullen said simply. “There’s a rich tradition of going out to the movies that was put on pause and then changed after COVID, but people coming together and experiencing a movie together is a powerful experience, because they’re able to take in a beautiful piece of art, together, in real time — as a community of sorts. That is a powerful thing. Ultimately, when folks come to a screening or event during our festival, we want them to be moved and to feel something. Joy. Hope. Optimism. Broadened understanding. That’s what we’ve been providing to audiences for 20 years through ﬁlm screenings, and 11 through our annual festival.”

For more information, call 336-972-2826 or visit the o cial “OUT at the Movies” website, https://outatthemovies.org/. !

Mark Burger

Contributor

The Ironic Life and Death of Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk’s life was replete with irony. He was a college dropout who became the intellectual leader for a generation of college kids. He was a Biblical scholar who was also an activist in the secular world of politics. He didn’t originally seek the spotlight, yet became a popular host of radio, TikTok, and podcasting. He is also credited with handing the White House over to the Republican Party in last year’s election by delivering the coveted 18 to 29-yearold voting block. Yet earlier this month, he was murdered by a member of that

Longworth at Large

same demographic group. While speaking to a large crowd of college kids at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, Kirk was shot in the neck and killed by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. We may never know the full extent of why Robinson hated Kirk enough to murder him. Liberals say Tyler was radicalized by the right, and conservatives say he was radicalized by the left. Some in both camps say he was radicalized by a romantic involvement with his trans male roommate. All we know for sure is that Charlie Kirk’s voice was silenced that day by a disturbed young man who left our nation more politically divided than ever before, with people on both sides more willing to cancel each other out than to talk things out.

Charlie Kirk welcomed diversity of thought and invited civil discourse and debate everywhere he appeared throughout his tour of college campuses. To be sure, Kirk’s views were con-

troversial. He was an election denier, he opposed DEI, he said that abortion was worse than the Holocaust, and he was anti-transgender. But above all, he was a staunch advocate for everyone’s right to free expression, and in that regard, I believe that Charlie would be sorely disappointed in what has transpired since his death.

In the days following Kirk’s assassination, journalists, broadcasters, public relations specialists, teachers, military personnel and others have been ﬁred or disciplined for making public statements that were critical of Charlie.

Among those who found themselves out of a job were: MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd, who commented that “Hateful words lead to hateful actions,” implying that Kirk’s controversial views brought about his murder.

Charlie Rock, a PR coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, was canned for joking about Kirk’s 2023 statement in which Charlie had said “It’s worth…some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our God-given rights.” Rock used that quote to imply that Kirk’s assassination was justiﬁed.

Lisa Greenlee, a part-time instructor at Guilford Technical Community College, was ﬁred after she told her students, “I’ll praise the shooter [Robinson]. He had good aim.” And last week, Randolph County high school teacher Heidi Varner resigned after she posted disparaging remarks about Kirk on social media.

Meanwhile, David Bauder of the As-

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sociated Press reported that a Florida journalist was suspended for the phrasing of a text he sent to his Congressman. And a Marine Corps recruiter was ﬁred for posting: “Another racist man popped.”

A Washington Post columnist believes she was ﬁred over posts she made about Kirk and America’s apathy toward guns, while over at ABC, Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show was suspended after he criticized Trump for not properly grieving his slain friend.

And last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that DOJ will start targeting left-wing protestors, while J.D. Vance called on everyone to report anyone who posts something negative about his friend Charlie Kirk.

Let me be clear. I am in no way defending the tasteless remarks that some folks have made in the days following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Truth is, I would have probably ﬁred some of them too, but it was Charlie’s ﬁrm belief that no one’s speech should be abridged. Beyond that, Kirk took criticism calmly and in stride. He also had a great sense of humor and never took himself too seriously. In fact, prior to his death, Charlie posted a video to say how much he enjoyed an episode of South Park which featured him as a “master debater” (a double entendre that hinted at a sexual act). Still, Comedy Central yanked that episode from rotation the day after Charlie’s assassination.

I was no fan of Charlie Kirk, and I disagreed with most of his political beliefs. Nevertheless, I respected him for his commitment to civil discourse. He seldom raised his voice, never used foul language, never engaged in degrading name-calling, and so far as we know, he never betrayed his faith or his family. In life, Charlie didn’t call for his critics to be censored, ﬁred, or suspended, so it seems ironic that both his supporters and detractors want to silence each other now that he’s gone.. !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.

Jim Longworth

The Senior: Michael Chiklis is the

BY MARK BURGER

In football parlance, the fact-based, faith-based sports drama The Senior doesn’t exercise unnecessary roughness to get its upbeat message across. Anchored by an immensely likable performance by Michael Chiklis and an appealing support team backing him, it’s a crowd-pleaser that knows which buttons to push and when to push them without lapsing into maudlin melodrama.

In 1971, Billy Flynt (Shawn Patrick Cli ord) was the captain of the Sul Ross State University Lobos football team and a feared linebacker, but his hair-trigger temper and penchant for collecting penalties got him booted o the team — and out of college. Some 35 years later, Flynt (Chiklis) still rues his missed opportunity and after meeting his old buddies at a college reunion, impetuously decides to

re-enroll at Sul Ross State, rejoin the team (!), and complete his degree.

National news outlets went into a frenzy debating how a 59-year-old grandfather could even think to compete against players who weren’t even born in his heyday, but they underestimated Flynt’s sheer determination and will, which impresses head coach Sam Weston (Rob Corddry) enough to make the team. Flynt’s wife Eileen (Mary Stuart Masterson) is supportive, although wary, while son Micah (Brandon Flynn) is openly disdainful, because he has always resented his father’s intensely competitive nature, which was instilled in him by his own father J.V. (James Badge Dale in a brief but e ective role).

Under the assured, polished direction of Rod Lurie, The Senior is engrossing formula fare. The football scenes are convincingly rendered, although the locker-room banter has been sanitized (all the better to ensure a family-friendly

PG rating). Every time it seems as if the ﬁlm is losing momentum, Executive Producer Robert Eisele’s down-to-earth screenplay snaps back to life and keeps the narrative focused and on track. That said, if the climactic game surprises you in any way, then you’ve never seen a sports movie before.

Corddry incorporates wry humor into the role of the coach who thought he’d seen it all until Mike Flynt strolled into his o ce, and it’s a genuine pleasure to see Masterson back on the big screen in a meaty role. Terayle Hill and newcomers Christian Becerra and Corey Knight are appealing as Mike’s most supportive teammates on the Lobos, while Chris Setticase is formidable as the least supportive. Still, what makes the movie work is Chiklis, in a perfectly modulated performance. He’s aware of his past failures and determined not to blow this unexpected second chance, even if injuries preclude him from taking the ﬁeld until the ﬁnal

game of the season. Having made an impressive screen debut as John Belushi in the otherwise derided Wired (1989), the actor rebounded on the small screen with The Commish (1991-’96) on ABC, then nailed down Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his ferocious turn on The Shield (2002-’08) on FX. As Flynt, he gives it everything he’s got — and his sincerity shines through in every scene.

As for the faith-based elements, the filmmakers wisely refrain from preaching or proselytizing. The inspirational aspects of the story are plain to see. Indeed, The Senior is as much about having faith in oneself as in a higher power — truly a universal message. It’s got heart and humor. Besides, any film that highlights the Spinners’ “The Rubberband Man” is just fine so far as this critic is concerned. !

[WEEKLY SUDOKU]

Ian McDowell

Winston-Salem Fashion Week:

Celebrating Dandyism and the Rebirth of Reﬁned Style

Nikita Wallace, who founded WinstonSalem Fashion Week 11 years ago, says that this year’s runway shows are going to dazzle the Camel City with dandyism.

“I was inspired by the New York Met Gala night this past May. I thought, why not take the same energy and focus on dandyism, southern style? That’s why the theme is Dandyism: The Rebirth of Reﬁned Style. We came up with that, and I think it’s been radiating well throughout the whole process of putting WinstonSalem Fashion Week together. I’m very excited about it.”

In his May 2025 Vogue article, “Black Dandyism Explained — From Its 18thCentury Roots to Modern-Day Expressions,” fashion writer Ty Gaskins described the theme of this year’s Met Gala as being

about identity, power, and resistance. “In a world where Black people have been marginalized, the dandy became a figure who defied the rigid categories of race and class that sought to confine them.”

Winston-Salem Fashion Week kicked o with the Dandy Ball and Recognition Ceremony at Robert Hall at 874 Liberty Street on Monday. This, said Wallace, “Will show how you can be dandy style informal, semiformal, or you can be business dandy or work dandy, your own take on dandyism with your style and ﬂair.”

On Friday, Sept. 26, the WSFW Urban Street Style runway show will be held in downtown Winston-Salem’s Corpening Plaza at 6:30 p.m. Featuring Hanesbrand, Project RunSlay, LEAD Girls of N.C. Fashion Camp, DXL Menswear and Emerging Designer(s), the runway show will present the latest fall/winter looks for the upcoming season and will feature a vendor’s market. This event is also free and open to the public, with required registration via ci.ovationtix.com.

Wallace said that more dandyism will be on display when the designers and Retail Runway Show is presented at 1 p.m. in the Robert Hall Event Venue at 874 N.

Liberty St. Featuring designer looks for Goodwill Diva Dapper on a Dime, eight designers will present their collections, along with a special runway presentation featuring the Sassy Sexy 70’s. General admission is $45, with tickets available via ci.ovationtix.com.

“We have eight designers this year, and all of them are really focused on the theme of dandyism. I’m really excited to see what they’re bringing to the table and how that will play out. Our designer coordinator is Mariah Britt, and we have a young man from High Point and Greensboro, Shy’Quavion Staton. There’s also Laquia Higgins and Ariona Brewster. Ariona has been with us since she was 16. She’s now 22, and she will be bringing her take on dandyism. And we have a 10-year-old this year, Zoe Samuel, as well as Muttuluri Preethika Chowdary and Karina Beltre. Cheryl Ann Lispstreu, who’s one of our local celebrity body artists, kicked o two weeks ago with a body art exhibition at Salem College. That was centered around dandyism as well.”

Wallace said there are also two main retailers showing on Saturday. “Body and Soul, which is downtown Winston-

Salem, owned by Dana Suggs, and then we have the Curvy Fox Boutique, presenting their take on dandyism. It’s going to be great to see a runway showcasing style that’s out of the box and out of the norm.”

On Sunday, Sept. 28, is the Youth Category Runway Show, sponsored by JCPenney, held in the Kaledium at 120 W. 3rd St., with an age range from ﬁve to 15. General admission is $25.

Designer Coordinator Mariah Britt described what her title entails.

“Basically, I am responsible for everything involving how the designers get into the show, how the show actually runs, coordinating with the models, and trying to get everybody on one accord so we can run as smoothly as possible. In a theatrical sense, I’m the producer.”

Britt is excited about featuring her work in what some in the industry have called the Year of the Dandy.

“This weekend, I have my own collection, which is super exciting, since I’ve been in business for about two years and have now decided to showcase all my work and get it out there into the Triad. Having worked with Winston-Salem Fashion Week for four years, I’m not a newbie

Contributor

Designers and stylists, from left, Mariah Britt, Zoe Samuel, Cheryl Ann Lipstreu, Ariona Brewster, Karina Beltre, Shy’Quavion Staton, Laquia Higgins, and Muttuluri Preethika Chowdary.

Nikita Wallace, founder of Winston-Salem Fashion Week

at this. I really love the organization and everything it embodies, so this has to be where I show my ﬁrst collection. I have a bridal collection, and for that, I’ve used a lot of classic silhouettes that are very tailored. Everything is ﬁt to the body, and then I added that extra feminine element of sparkles and lace just to soften it a tad.”

Britt also works for Unrivaled Teamwear, an industry leader in sports and team apparel headquartered in Kansas, for which she designs men’s and boys’ licensed sports apparel for mass retail.

“I call Unrivaled my nine-to-ﬁve, so I’m designing men’s and boys’ apparel by day, women’s wear by night. I love to play with the more feminine part of dandyism, so I have brought designs that are a little bit occupational, but which have a level of elegance that only dandyism can bring.”

She said she’s particularly looking forward to Saturday. “We’re doing a new thing this year, with the show outside. I’m not only showing but featuring this beautiful runway we added for an extra twist.” But she’s also excited about the Sunday youth show.

“We’ll be at Kaledium, which is new to me and looks awesome. We will be having

JCPenney and Rhythm Lifestyle. We’ll also have Zoe Samuel, a young designer, showcasing for the ﬁrst time. So, it’s going to be fun to see all the children come in and see her designs. It’s going to be very exciting.”

Britt said she’s eagerly anticipating the work of Beltre. “Karina was one of our models and is now a designer. Her line is Rhythm Lifestyle, a ‘Dandy Line’ of adultwear she’s showing on Saturday, and then on Sunday, she’s doing a kids-wear line.”

“I think this is a great opportunity to really express ourselves through dandyism and just being who you are,” said Wallace. “Just wear your clothes, it doesn’t have to be a special occasion. You know, this is the moment; so let’s embrace it. Life is short, things are happening, let’s take this time to really just show yourself and your expression through fashion.”

For more information, a complete list of events, or tickets, visit www.wsfashionweek.com. !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

Saturday, September 27 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

United Way of Greater High Point Celebrates 90 Impactful Years Serving the Community

COMPILED BY SYDNEY GRIFFITHS

On Friday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m., the United Way of Greater High Point celebrated its 90th Anniversary serving Jamestown, High Point, Archdale, and Trinity with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The ribboncutting ceremony celebrated the impact that United Way of Greater High Point has made in the last 90 years.

Mayor Cyril Je erson of High Point was in attendance at the ribbon-cutting and proclaimed the day as “United Way of Greater High Point 90th Anniversary Day.”

Jane Sharpe Liebscher, the CEO/president of the United Way of Greater High Point, as well as High Point’s Chamber of Commerce representatives, were also in attendance to celebrate the 90th milestone.

On its website, the UWGHP reﬂects on its anniversary, appreciating everyone who

has contributed, saying, “This milestone reﬂects not only our organization’s longevity but also the unwavering dedication of our donors, volunteers, and partners who share our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable community.”

The United Way of Greater High Point is a non-proﬁt organization that works to improve education, health, and ﬁnancial security by developing community resources and creating partnerships with local companies. They support programs like the backpack program for students, provide seniors with free fans in the summer, o er prescription savings cards through SingleCare, and partners with other organizations to foster early childhood development and youth success.

The United Way of Greater High Point was founded in 1935 and was ﬁrst known as the “Community Chest.” After timeless

planning and meetings, the mission finally became to create a unified fundraising e ort to support various local charities. The first five partner agencies became: the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, and the Boy Scouts. What started as a small non-profit blossomed into something incredible. In recent years, the United Way has been funding 59 programs with 25 local partner agencies and has impacted the lives of thousands. A glimpse into some of the impactful work being done by the UWGHP includes the UWGHP backpack program, Fans for Seniors, and the UWGHP Little Free Libraries.

Through their UWGHP backpack program, the United Way of Greater High Point provides weekend meals for elementary school students in High Point, Archdale, and Trinity. Through partnerships with community agencies, they provide nutritious, kid-friendly, pre-packaged food for 2,000 children during the school year, holidays, and summer break.

The United Way of Greater High Point is accepting help for their BackPack program in the form of donations and volunteering by picking up and dropping o food at sites, assisting school sites in delivering BackPacks to students on Friday after-

noons, and assisting in packing BackPacks. Fans for Seniors is an annual program run throughout the summer by the UWGHP, working in partnership with Senior Resources of Guilford. This vital summer program provides free fans to seniors and disabled adults who struggle to stay cool during the hotter months. The United Way of Greater High Point is focused on keeping seniors and disabled adults cooler during the warmer months, as rising temperatures tend to increase the risk of heatrelated illnesses.

UWGHP is accepting help through donations of new, UL-approved 20-inch box fans. The Drop-o location is: United Way of Greater High Point, 815 Phillips Avenue, High Point. They ask to call ahead to schedule at this number: (336) 8834127. A donation can be given online at the unitedwayhp.org website or by stopping by their o ce at 815 Phillips Avenue, High Point, where a $25 donation can provide a new fan for someone in need. A purchase can also be made through the UWGHP Amazon wishlist at this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/3VIA3FGBC2C9K?ref_=wl_share.

The UWGHP Little Free Libraries is a free book exchange program where communi-

ty members can take a book or give a book at key locations. The UWGHP is growing Little Free Library sites in the community through the support of The Wells Fargo Foundation, Thomas Built Buses, High Point Enterprise, and Publix, and currently sponsors 16 local sites.

The United Way of Greater High Point is accepting new or gently used books for The Little Free Libraries for children ages from birth to sixth grade. Donations can be dropped o at the UWGHP o ce at 815 Phillips Drive during the week or by placing books in the mail drop at the front of the building.

Taking a look back at the impact that the United Way of Greater High Point has made on the community in the last 90 years is truly inspiring. “We’re looking forward to the next 90 years,” UWGHP says on its Instagram as it reﬂects on this milestone.

If volunteers would like to help the United Way of Greater High Point in its mission and programs, more information about volunteering, donations, and getting involved is available on the United Way of Greater High Point website at unitedwayhp.org. !

Photos by Natalie Garcia

Vicki Genfan: the percussive poet of open tunings

REVIEWED BY JON EPSTEIN

There are guitarists who play, and then there are guitarists who feel like entire orchestras wrapped in a single body. Vicki Genfan belongs to the latter category — a musician whose hands seem to translate rhythm, melody, and harmony into a continuous, surprising conversation. Over the last ﬁve years, she’s continued to evolve not by chasing trends, but by deepening the singular approach that made her a ﬁxture in the acoustic world: a percussive “slap-tap” technique and a deep, adventurous relationship with alternate and open tunings that reshape the guitar’s voice.

When you ﬁrst hear Genfan play, what strikes you isn’t virtuosity for its own sake, but her uncanny ability to make the guitar sound like a whole band — bass, drums, shimmering chime-like harmonics, and singing melody. She builds songs around patterns that are simultaneously rhythmic and lyrical: the thumb slaps the lower strings with near-funk authority, while the ﬁngers tap harmonics and pluck melody lines high on the neck. The result is a music that’s muscular and intimate at once, a sound that allows room for her voice — pure and soulful — to slide in and out of the instrumental textures. Other critics describe this as “slap-tap” and are dazzled by her command of dozens of open tunings.

But technical ﬁreworks aren’t the point; they’re the means. Genfan’s music is rooted in songs — originals and transformative covers — that demonstrate an emotional clarity. Whether she’s reimagining a familiar melody or unfurling an original, her arrangements treat the guitar as a storytelling instrument. That approach shapes her live shows and workshops alike: audiences frequently report feeling both awed by the technique and moved by the honesty of the material. Genfan is an active performer and educator, bringing that hybrid of instruction and performance to intimate concert halls and festival stages.

Teaching is an important part of Genfan’s career. Over the last ﬁve years, she’s presented masterclasses, online workshops, and festival clinics that emphasize creative possibility — how to break

the “box” of standard tuning, how to use percussive elements to create arrangement, and how to translate song ideas into full-sounding solo pieces. Her online presence reﬂects a modern teacher’s playbook: short, demonstrative videos, interactive livestreams, and opportunities for students to discover new open tunings and compositional tricks. This mix of performance and pedagogy has kept her connected to both longtime followers and a new generation of guitarists hungry for alternative approaches.

Artistically, the last half-decade has been one of consolidation rather than reinvention: Genfan has doubled down on the elements that define her — the tunings, the rhythmic language, the voice — while refining how she presents them in a world that’s shifted dramatically toward online concerts and hybrid teaching models. TEDx and other platforms that featured her work in the early 2020s underscore how she frames her craft not merely as a skill but as a mindset: an invitation to approach the guitar as a limitless field of sonic possibility rather than a fixed set of rules. That message resonates especially well now, when many players and listeners are hungry for music that feels handcrafted and singular.

Listeners who discover Genfan through a single viral clip can be surprised — and

happily so — when they dive deeper. Her recorded catalog includes studio albums, live sets, and a selection of instructional releases that document both the songs and the techniques behind them. Her o cial music pages keep a current, accessible selection of recordings — a practical choice for an artist whose playing is as much about tone and nuance as it is about composition. These releases function as both artistic statements and pedagogical resources: the nuances of her tone, the subtle muting, the placement of percussive hits are all audible maps you can study and, with practice, adopt.

What sets Genfan apart in the crowded field of fingerstyle and percussive players is how her influences — folk, jazz, pop, soul, and world music — don’t sit beside each other but fuse in real time. She’ll move from a gospel-tinged vocal phrase to a jazz-inflected chordal passage and then into a world-music rhythmic groove, all within the span of a single performance. That versatility makes her shows unpredictable in the best possible way: a listener can expect the unexpected.

For musicians, Genfan’s work is also an invitation to expand the deﬁnition of solo performance. Her arrangements suggest practical blueprints for how a single player can achieve the fullness of

a band: alternate tunings that create open harmonic beds, strategic percussive accents that simulate drums, and melodic voicings that supply bass and lead simultaneously. In masterclasses, she demonstrates not only the how but the why — how tuning choices inspire di erent melodic possibilities, why percussive attacks change phrasing, and how to compose with the instrument’s physicality in mind. Online festival appearances and symposium contributions in recent years show she remains invested in spreading these ideas beyond her own concert calendar.

Beyond technique and teaching, there’s a quietly persistent humanism to Genfan’s music. Her songs often carry an optimistic, soulful core; even when addressing grief or uncertainty, the overall aesthetic leans toward repair and resilience. In interviews, she’s spoken about music as a tool for connection and healing — a belief that makes her pedagogy feel less like a recipe and more like an invitation to join a community of practice.

Where does she go from here? Based on recent activity — workshops, festival appearances through 2024, and a steady stream of online concerts and lessons — Genfan looks likely to continue operating in three parallel lanes: performance, recording, and teaching. Each reinforces the other: live experiences feed recordings; recordings fuel workshop material; teaching grows the audience that ﬁlls the rooms (virtual and real) where she performs. The result is a sustainable model that centers artistic depth over ﬂash-in-the-pan exposure.

If you haven’t yet heard Genfan live, now is your chance. Genfan will be the ﬁrst artist to appear at “The Headphone Concert Experience” being held at Campus Gas in Winston-Salem on Thursday, Oct. 9. The concert is free, and headphone rentals are $5. Genfan’s technical innovation is married to her songwriter’s sensibility and a generous approach to sharing that knowledge. For players, she’s a technical teacher; for listeners, she’s a performer who reimagines what a single guitar can carry. Either way, the e ect is the same: you end up hearing the instrument — and the songs — with new ears. !

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of September 29, 2025

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Someone has some suggestions to o er regarding your new project. You might ﬁnd them helpful. Remember to avoid speculation and stick with just the facts, Lamb.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) An old friend suddenly reappears. Whether this proves to be a boon or a bane in the Bovine’s life depends on the reason for this surprising reappearance. Be cautious.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Vital information ﬁnally emerges, allowing you to make an important personal decision. You can now move your focus to an upcoming professional development.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might not like seeing so many on-the-job changes. But some of them could open up new opportunities for the Moon Child’s talents to shine to your best advantage.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) An apparently solid-gold opportunity beckons the Lion. But check to see if all that dazzle isn’t just a sprinkling of surface glitter before making a commitment.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A close friend could o er advice on how to handle a di cult family matter. But in the end, the decision has to be made based on what is best for you and those you love.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Family problems are best worked out with all those concerned contributing sug-

gestions that will ease tensions. Stay with it until a workable solution is found.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Expect to hear more about an o er that has piqued your interest. You earn respect for insisting on solid facts, not just a fancy talk about potential opportunities.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) What seemed to be a reasonable workplace request might need to be defended. Don’t fret. You have both the facts and a surprise ally on your side.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A bit of capriciousness might be just what you need. Plan to kick up your heels in a round of fun and games with family and friends this weekend.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Although some of your plans might have to be put on hold, things do begin to take a turn for the better by midweek. Your ﬁnancial crunch also eases.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your ﬁnancial picture begins to brighten by week’s end. There are also favorable changes in your personal life. Someone you care for has good news to report.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You seek balance, but not at the expense of justice. You would make a ﬁne judge or do great with humanitarian work.

answers

[CROSSWORD]

crossword on page 6

[WEEKLY SUDOKU]

sudoku on page 6

[

TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1.GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: The children’s novel “Black Beauty” is about what kind of animal?

[2. MOVIES: Which actor narrates the 1980s ﬁlm Stand by Me?

[3. GEOGRAPHY: Which world city is home to Saint Basil’s Cathedral?

[4. U.S. CITIES: Which major U.S. city sits on top of a working salt mine that has been operating since 1910?

[5. LITERATURE: What is the name of the country where “The Hunger Games” takes place?

[6. MATH: How many sides does a trapezoid have?

[7. ASTRONOMY: How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?

[8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many legs does a lobster have?

[9. TELEVISION: Which TV drama always begins with a meeting and the warning, “Let’s be careful out there”?

[10. LANGUAGE: How many letters are in the English alphabet?

1. A horse.

2. Richard Dreyfuss.

3. Moscow, Russia.

4. Detroit, Michigan.

5. Panem.

Side by Side with Nido Qubein is a series of in-depth, 30-minute conversations with leaders, storytellers, and influential voices shaping North Carolina and beyond. Hosted by internationally known author, business consultant, and High Point University President Nido Qubein, each episode dives beneath the surface to reveal insights and inspiration from each special guest. Featuring timeless and topical themes, the program airs year-round on PBS North Carolina. Season Five begins October 7.