Spotlight | First Violin

Dorris Dai Janssen

Dorris Dai Janssen began studying the violin at age 3 and performed in her first orchestra when she was 7. She received her Bachelor of Music in violin performance at the University of Houston and a Master of Music at the University of Minnesota. While living in Minneapolis, Janssen played regularly with the Minnesota Orchestra, with whom she toured the United States, including Carnegie Hall. Her most influential teachers include William Pu, Fredell Lack, Michael Steinberg and Jorja Fleezanis. Janssen made Kansas City home in 2000, when she won a position in the first violin section. Since then, she also has held the position of Acting Assistant Concertmaster for six years and has performed numerous solos with the Kansas City Symphony. Janssen feels extremely fortunate to be able to share music in Kansas City by playing on stage, reaching out on the Mobile Music Box, demonstrating for children in classrooms, and teaching privately. Her summers belong to Wyoming where she has gone each year since 2001 to be part of the Grand Teton Music Festival. Janssen lives in Olathe, Kansas, with her husband, two sons and a dog.