2023 Peter Wessler Scholarship Recipient Interview

Henry at LSM 2023

Lutheran Summer Music is pleased to present the recipient of the 2023 Peter Wessler Scholarship Award: Henry from Tuckahoe, NY.

Peter Wessler served as the LSM Academy Director for 17 years before his death in 2020. LSM established the Peter Wessler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund to honor him and to ensure his legacy continues into perpetuity. In an overwhelming display of gratitude for Peter's commitment and impact, over 140 people, including LSM alumni, faculty, staff, and personal friends, made contributions to LSM in Peter's memory.

Henry was chosen as the designee for this award due to his warm presence and leadership among students during the 2023 Academy. In addition to receiving funds through the Peter Wessler scholarship, Henry also successfully fundraised through crowdfunding toward his LSM attendance.

Henry, a first-year voice and trumpet student this past summer, sang in the Festival Choir, played in the Festival Band, and took part in Jazz Ensemble and Musical Theatre electives. He also served on the Student Council and earned a reputation among the community as a student who showed care and welcome for everyone around him – he even gained notoriety for giving away dozens of miniature duck figurines as a token of friendship and fun to his fellow students, and faculty and staff. Just as Peter Wessler’s family deeply felt the positive impact of LSM in their own lives, Henry’s family experienced the same, as his father Steve is also an LSM alum.

Dean Mennicke sat down with Henry during Festival Week 2023 to ask him about his LSM experience:

As a new student to LSM, what was one of the biggest things that struck you at the beginning of the program?

I noticed when I got here, the fellows and the staff were making sure that everyone feels welcome and safe, and I think there’s very important – especially when you’re living with strangers for four weeks – that the people in charge of you really want you to be safe and comfortable.

Did it take a while for you to find your footing as a new student?

As a new student coming here, I knew that everyone would be a musician, but I wasn’t sure that anyone would want to pursue it as a career like I would like to. I was very pleasantly surprised to see when I came that a lot of people are passionate and looking for new experiences.

Tell us about the people you met and some of the friendships you made.

Henry playing in the LSM Jazz Ensemble Concert

It's not just the people on your floor that you make friends with. I've made friends in choir, in jazz band, in musical theatre, and there's always someone to talk to. If you just see them in the dining hall, you can be like, "Hey, musical theatre friend! Hey jazz band person, it's great to see you, what's up? What are you working on?” And it really builds a sense of community that you get when you walk in here.

What does the LSM community as a place of belonging mean to you?

LSM brings together a lot of different people from all over the country and from different backgrounds, from different levels of experience – and that has made me feel like I belong more.

What did you observe musically at LSM and how students come in with different musical levels and experiences?

Our directors will take time even during rehearsal to make sure that someone has the resources to get their part right, or to figure out something. In sectionals for band and choir the same thing happens – it’s much more personal. Even though you’re in a band of 90-something people, you feel a connection with your director. Our choir director was great at welcoming students of all different skill levels. At home, I sing in a couple different choirs – my church choir, my school choir, and I serve as a Choral Scholar for another congregation. I’m used to getting challenging music, but not so much going through it in a way our (LSM) director does. And it was nice to have that different experience. I could tell that even the people who were newer to choir and choral singing were improving every single day.

What do you think is the most fun part of LSM?

It’s a lot of fun to be in a community with people who show common interests with you, who are serious about music, and who are also here to have fun.

Henry will be returning to LSM 2024 for his second summer. Congratulations to Henry, and sincere thanks to the many donors that honor the memory of Peter Wessler and make this scholarship possible.