Denise Blehm
Violin

Played with the Salina Symphony since:
High school. I took a break from playing in Salina during the college years and picked up again when I moved back to the area in 1999.

Hometown: Salina
Current City: Abilene

 Job Title:
Private Violin Instructor

Earliest musical memory:
Going to Salina Symphony concerts to watch my mom (also a violinist) and going to church choir practice on Wednesday evenings.  My dad was choir director and my mom and older siblings were in choir. While they were rehearsing, a friend and I would quietly slide on our bellies under the pews from the front to the back of the church…all while trying not to get caught!

Best part of being a Salina Symphony musician:
Coming together with all types of folks to make music and the challenge of the increasingly difficult music chosen for us to play.

Most memorable performance with the Salina Symphony:
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with Tatiana Tessman

How do you spend your free time?
What free time?!  I squeeze in time to chillax with my son and, of course, practice my violin.

Whom do you admire?
I admire my father for being a steadfast Christian model and a dedicated musician. I also admire Eric Stein for his perseverance in forming this orchestra and his many years of teaching and sharing his love of music with a countless number of individuals.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
As much as I love being a violinist, performer and teacher, I would have to say that raising my son is my greatest accomplishment.