Hope College, Michigan, is in shock at the death of Jennifer Kasunick, a blind violinist who was due to perform with its orchestra at Carnegie Hall in April.
Jennifer was walking her dog Rowdy near caampus when she was knocked over by a passing train. The dog survived.
There was no barrier between the rail track and the sidewalk.
Jennifer’s orchestra director Samuel Pang writes:
The Hope College Orchestra and the Hope community grieve the death of Jennifer Kasunick. Last evening, Jennifer was struck by a train near 10th Street and did not survive.
Jennifer Kasunick was a blind student at Hope College. She was a first violinist in the orchestra and learned all her concert music by ear—ranging from Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, to Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, to Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. Jennifer and her service dog, Rowdy, who survived, were a source of joy to everyone on campus. Jennifer knew everyone in the orchestra just by the sound of us saying hello. She was always cheerful, dedicated in everything she did, and a humble team player. The last time we spoke, I saw Jennifer helping the orchestra clear the concert hall stage with a violin case on her back, a concert hall chair in her left arm, another in her right arm, and Rowdy’s leash in her right hand. She would have kept doing the unthinkable task if I had not asked her to stop. Jennifer was also very steadfast in her Christian faith. She was the one who took the initiative to gather everyone in the green room for prayer time before our concert last Fall. Professors and students alike would have a better day just by talking to Jennifer.
Jennifer, we miss you. We grieve that our time together has been too short, yet I also rejoice over the fact that the first person you ever see is not any of us but Jesus. Enjoy his presence, and enjoy seeing him face to face. Enjoy making music with all angels, all the powers of heaven, the cherubim and seraphim as you all sing in endless praise to God. Forget about the theory classes here. Just go and enjoy your fellowship with J.S. Bach. Wait for us, and we look forward to being in the same orchestra again.
It has been an honor, Jennifer.
The post Blind violinist, 20, is killed by train appeared first on Slippedisc.
