Jennifer is a vibrant young pianist who is in constant and diverse demand throughout the country. In addition to over 10 years of professional experience, she has recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance under the tutelage of renowned concert pianist Richard Cionco. Other teachers with substantial influence on Jennifer`s career include Natuski Fukasawa, Lorna Peters, and Kirsten Smith.
Jennifer gave her first solo recital at age 5 and by the tender age of 12 had already recieved her first Staff Pianist position . She has appeared in solo and ensemble performances all over the world, including such international venues as Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and British Columbia, as well as engagements in New York, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Omaha and Seattle. In 2006, Jennifer was invited to participate in the prestigious Schlern International Music Festival in Italy, where she not only was given the opportunity to study with Yakov Gelfand--Head of Piano, Moscow Conservatory, but also gave 11 performances to critical acclaim in the castles and cathedrals of the Italian Alps.
Jennifer also performs extensively in the Sacramento area and has recently shared the stage with such great musicians as Michael Carabello (founding member of Santana-Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Jonathan Cain (Journey), Peppino D`Agostino (2007 Best Acoustic Guitarist, Reader`s Choice Awards), Jerry Martini (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--Sly and the Family Stone), Steven Mackey (Princeton, composer-in-residence), Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), and Hope Briggs (San Fransisco Opera). She is also a frequent collaborator with singer Holly Stell ("Little Pavarotti") and violinist Carlos Reyes.
Awards include 6 Command Performances, the Bank of America Achievement Award in Music, Stars of the New Millenium Award, induction into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Saturday Club Music Appreciation Scholarship recipient, Sacramento Regional Community Foundation Scholarship recipient, and the Festival of New American Music Competition Winner, and two guest performer slots on the Sacramento cable TV show "Livewire."
Jennifer believes that music is one of the most powerful ways to reach and inspire people, and so makes a point of participating in benefit concerts as often as possible, including the following: In April 2007 she was selected to be one of 9 musicians from across the US to perform in an Omaha gala concert benefitting Project Harmony, an organization dedicated to protecting abused children. In 2009, Jennifer joined big names such as Holly Stell, Billy Bob Thornton, and Tony La Russa to perform for the benefit of ARF, an organization devoted to the rescue of abused animals. And, to kick off 2010, she joined members of the Doobie Brothers, Santana, Taj Mahal, and Tower of Power for the 6th Annual Voices of Latin Rock to raise money for autism awareness in the United States.
Jennifer has many musical interests extending beyond her classical roots and is proud to be a founding member of the recently formed New American Music ensemble Citywater, a group "devoted to the creation and performance of exciting new works by contemporary composers." She dedicates much of her time to the group`s already extensive concert invitations (www.citywatermusic.com). Jennifer was also a founding member of the group C-Sus, a Sacramento-based vocal jazz ensemble, who in 2006 was honored with the Downbeat Award "Best Collegiate Vocal Jazz Ensemble in the US and Canada." Finally, Jennifer has also spent a substantial amount of time in the pits of operas and musicals, including Chorus Line, All Shook Up, Merry Wives of Windsor, Kismet and The Magic Flute.
In addition to her other fields, Jennifer has a long standing passion for collaborative piano and has worked as Staff Accompanist at Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College, and California State University, Sacramento. She continues to be called upon to accompany both vocalists and instrumentalists all over the state.
When not performing, Jennifer enjoys maintaining an extensive private piano studio, as well as working as a freelance studio musician. She is excited to announce the recent release of her latest collaborative effort "Twilight Moon", in which she joins Jerry Martini, guitarist Bill Wylie, and vocalist Twana Turner.
Contact Jennifer at jennifer@citywatermusic.com
