Linda Thomssen
B.M. Grove City College

Member of the Orchestra Since 1982

Linda Thomssen is a native of Grove City, Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor of Music degree from Grove City College. Upon graduation, she moved to Akron, Ohio to play with Akron, Canton and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras. While there, she pursued her violin studies with Leonard Samuels of the Cleveland Orchestra, and David Taylor of the Chicago Symphony.

As a Charter Member of the Kansas City Symphony, Thomssen has served on a myriad of orchestra committees and the Symphony's stragetic planning. She has also served on the faculties of William Jewell College and Park University. For many years, she served as Concertmaster and Personnel Manager of both the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City. She also played with a piano trio for more than 10 years, and has taught violin privately the majority of her time in Kansas City.

In addition to playing the violin in the Symphony, Thomssen also plays harp. She has studied with Kansas City Symphony harpist, Debbie Clark. Currently, she plays with a harp duo and a harp ensemble. She is married to Darrel D. Thomssen, a pilot for TWA and American Airlines and retired Brigadier General with the Nebraska Air National Guard. Their son, Michael, is a chemical engineer with Black & Veatch and has sung with the Phoenix Symphony Chorus for the past six years.