LORRAINE — For Genifer Wesseler, music is more than a pastime or even a passion — it is a legacy.

Originally from Bay City, Mich., her father was a high school music teacher and her mother a secretary for Franklin Community Church, who also sang. Her family moved to a suburb of Detroit when she was in second grade, but no matter the locale, music was always there.

“I have an older sister and younger brother. Our house was always filled with music,” Wesseler said. “My parents had an old upright piano in their bedroom, and my dad loved just sitting down and playing, usually making up silly songs. I remember he would play “The Fox” (Peter, Paul and Mary) and was very animated with all the animal voices. We’d always have students over working on marching band arrangements, the current musical or church music with my dad. So many family friends were musicians, and whenever they were visiting, there was always music being played or sung.”

With such a legacy and love of music surrounding her, it was no surprise when she began playing violin in fourth grade.

Orchestra was offered in fourth grade at her school, while band wasn’t available to students until sixth grade.

“I really wanted to play a string instrument, and the violin was my choice,” Wesseler said.

In junior high, she attended Interlochen Music Camp in Northern Michigan at the Interlochen Center for Arts. The center began in 1928 with a goal to engage and inspire people worldwide through excellence in educational, artistic and cultural programs and to enhance the quality of life through the universal language of the arts.

“I attended camp for three years and loved how our entire day could be filled with music lessons, sectionals, rehearsals and still have time to swim,” Wesseler said.

In high school, she joined the Detroit Youth Symphony and played for four years while also taking private lessons. All this would lead one to believe she would go on to college and major in music. But there was one problem.

“I assumed I would major in music when I went to college, but I realized competition was a serious business,” Wesseler said. “I didn’t enjoy that part of music, I just enjoyed learning and making music. I wasn’t very good at challenging friends for their seats. I loved literature, so that was my focus in college. I continued playing music and played in several regional orchestras. I was able to be a part of the Lansing Chamber Orchestra’s recording of the Mozart Requiem.”

Though music was always in her heart, it wasn’t always flowing through her bow. She took a hiatus from playing in organized events for about a decade.

“I was married and had two children and didn’t find a place to play and fit into a very busy life. This was a musically dark part of life,” Wesseler said. “In 1993, I moved to Sterling, where new opportunities opened for me and several people encouraged me to play and I started to practice more and more and joined the Hutchinson Symphony and the Mid-Kansas Symphony, as well as starting to enjoy bluegrass music.”

For someone who grew up with music, it was a bit of a shock to move to an area in which orchestra is not common in schools.

“There are no string programs in Ellsworth or Rice County. Very sad. I encourage your readers to support the arts,” Wesseler said.

Music even brought her to her husband David, who she met after he attended a Hutchinson Symphony concert in 1996.

“My life changed. David and I were married in 1998 and he has been my greatest encourager,” she said. “David joined the Bethany Choir during the Messiah Festival, where I played in the orchestra. He has been a tremendous supporter of the arts.”

It’s been all about the music since then. In 2017, Wesseler attended the Mark O’Connor Teacher certification program for his fiddle method at the Turtle Bay Music School in New York City. She received her certification to teach all the material in his curriculum. She is also a member of the American String Teachers Association.

“I have a music studio in our Morton building atop my husband’s woodshop. I have a wonderful place for practicing and teaching,” Wesseler said. “I have had a variety of different students from Ellsworth County that have explored playing the violin. I have had one or two [students] that have moved on to play in the Salina Youth Symphony. It is a wonderful resource to have the youth symphony so close.”

Wesseler plays in the Praise Band at the First Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, led by Bernie Schulte, where she plays electric violin.

“We have a great group of musicians and enormous musical talent in our congregation,” she said. “It’s a wonderful ministry to be a part of.”

It was in 2004 that she found her “musical home” as she puts it, at the Salina Symphony. In her tenure there, she has played everything from Tchaikovsky to Dvorak, with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 being a personal favorite.

“These masterworks are magnificent, and being able to spend time working through a piece is so rewarding when it all comes together for our performance,” Wesseler said. “Acoustic Eidolon, the Boston Brass, Celtic Tenors and our recent soloist violinist Maria Loudentich have all been memorable. Our Christmas concerts always delight our audience, and are always a joy to play.”

With so many performances to choose from, it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite, but she noted the outreach concerts rank at the top.

“The Stiefel Theater filled with 1,000-plus fourth graders from across the state is such a thrill and joy to be a part of,” Wesseler said. “They are a captive audience that are always enthusiastic and engaged.”

Recently, the symphony has brought on a new director, Yanev Segal. Segal, a violinist as well as composer, has been described as “redefining classical music” by Esquire Magazine, with “illuminating” performances according to the New York Times. He hails from New York and has played the violin since he was 4 and began composing at the ripe old age of 10.

“I have enjoyed my time with the symphony and all the directors I’ve experienced,” Wesseler said. “Change is always difficult, but we have outstanding leadership that has a great vision for the symphony. I think that we will always have people that want to be a part of this great orchestra. I love the variety of music we perform and guest artists that have joined us. I love the challenge of learning new music. I am especially excited about our new music director, Yanev Segal.”

In 2000, Wesseler lost one of her favorite musicians when her father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and in 2022, she lost her mother as well. Through the good times and the bad, music has been there, and continues to be a place in which she can find solace.

“My mother was such a supporter of my music and the symphony,” she said. “The grieving never really ends; I feel happiest making music knowing that they would both continue to be very proud of my efforts. Musically, as I get older, I find fingers don’t move as quickly as they once did, but that doesn’t stop me. I fear if I were to play less, I would lose a great deal of dexterity.”

Time takes its toll on everyone and change comes, whether we want it to or not, but for Wesseler, change can be a good thing. The Wesselers’ youngest son will graduate from Kansas State University this spring and head to graduate school. At that point, Genifer and David are looking forward to a little travel, but she isn’t quite ready to lay down her bow.

“I plan to continue with the Symphony for a few more years if they’ll have me, and then we’ll see what the future holds,” she said. “If you haven’t been to see the Symphony, make a point to see a concert and I believe you will be delighted by experiencing live music in a beautiful theater.”