Blanche Wynne has given more than 50 years of service to the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra. A life-long resident of Kitsap County, she learned to play the violin from her father, who was a founding member of the symphony in 1942. She began playing at age 15 and slowly moved up as she became better, until she was sitting alongside her father, a principal violinist and concertmaster of the historic community symphony.

She has played with orchestra and ballet companies in Tacoma, Spokane, in Glendale, California and in Alaska.

She’s led trios and quartets in chambers throughout the region and served in an outreach ensemble at many local schools because of her desire to share music with young potential musicians.

As she said, “I’ve played with orchestras that are considered to be more professional and there, it’s kind of like a job. With this (Bremerton) orchestra, it’s different. It’s more like a family.”

She retired from government service as a contract specialist. She has five children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with a ninth on the way. She is a founding member of the Four Seasons String Quartet and has played at weddings and other functions.

Although she suffered a stroke in December 2014, she is on a path of recovery that has amazed her symphony family. She plans to return to play with the symphony in the fall.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Sound Publishing’s Special Section, “Women of Achievement.”