Lani began her string music experience in grade school and continued playing throughout high school and college. In ninth grade she began playing with the Clinton Symphony Orchestra in Clinton, Iowa, and eventually made her way into the first violin section.

Lani has studied under William Henigbaum, concertmaster of the Quad-City Symphony, and music professors from Cornell College and the University of Iowa. She received her B.A. from Cornell College in music education and Spanish, and has an M.A. in Developmental Reading from the University of Iowa.

After graduation from college, Lani returned to Clinton to teach string music in the schools and to resume playing with the Clinton Symphony. In 1964, she married Bob Willis whom she had known since they were in kindergarten together. They have three grown children and six grandchildren. Bob is a big supporter of her music endeavors and helps out with the symphony where he can.

Most of her professional career has been teaching in the elementary classroom which turned out to be her real love.

Lani retired from teaching in 2002 to pursue other interests which include being a member of Wesley United Methodist Church choir and bell choir. She also loves reading, stitching, gardening (is a Master Gardener), and traveling. Special times are those spent with family, especially grandchildren.

During the years that her three children were busy in high school activities, she took a hiatus from symphony playing. It was just in 2003 that she decided to pick up her violin again, after a 20-year lapse. Working to regain some of her playing skill has been rewarding as has been the experience in Muscatine Symphony Orchestra.

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