Jessamine Ewert Guislain grew up in Fairway, Kansas, where she graduated from Shawnee Mission High School (now Shawnee Mission North). After two years of study under Robert Glasgow at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, she transferred to College of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas. There she completed her Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music and Organ Performance under the tutelage of Richard Gayhart.

In 1959, Jess won a Fulbright Scholarship, an award which enabled her to travel to Antwerp, Belgium, and study under world-renowned organist, pedagogue, and composer Flor Peeters at the Royal Flemish Conservatory.  While continuing her studies with Peeters, she met and married Serge Guislain.  During her European residence, she concertized in Antwerp and Brussels and was assistant organist at the National Basilica of Belgium in Brussels.

In 1964, Jess returned to the United States and renewed her studies under Richard Gayhart. She served for four years as choir organist of her parish, St. Ann Church.  Since then, in addition to raising four daughters, she has continued as a professional church musician and accompanist and has given concerts at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Visitation Church,  Community of Christ Auditorium, Roanoke Presbyterian Church, and  St. Ann Church. Since 1965,  Jess has been part of St. Ann's music ministry.