Born and raised in New Zealand, Jennifer learned to play Violin through the Suzuki method at age 3. She has studied with many prominent Suzuki educators and trainers. At age 6, she played with Dr Suzuki himself when he was on tour in New Zealand. She has attended conferences and camps where she was taught by Yasuki Nakamura, Australia, one of Dr Suzuki’s first students; Kerry Langdon, Auckland, NZ
who also studied with Dr Suzuki in Japan; Val Thorburn, Principal Suzuki Trainer, New Zealand; Cathy Lee, Edmund Sprunger, Katie Lansdale, USA; and many others. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Performance Violin from Massey University Conservatorium, Wellington, New Zealand. While doing her undergraduate and postgraduate work at Massey University, she also completed Advanced Diplomas from Trinity College of London, and the Associated Music Boards of Australia. She earned her Master of Music Degree in Performance Violin in the United States while serving as a General Assistant at the New Jersey City University and continued her postgraduate studies with Dr. Burton Kaplan, Manhattan School of Music. She also spent time at Dr. Kaplan’s Mountain Music Retreat in New York, participating in master classes and workshops. She has attended Suzuki Conferences in Las Vegas and Texas, participating in master classes and studying with Cathy Lee and Edmund Sprunger, among others, continuing to enrich her Suzuki training she acquired assorted tools, games and books to assist her in guiding students and parents in their home practice sessions. During her time as a freelance musician in New Zealand, Jennifer played concerts with Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Il Divo, and Amici the Opera Band. She was a featured soloist with the Hawke’s Bay and Wellington Chamber Orchestras and played 1st violin with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Vector Wellington Orchestra, Wellington Chamber Orchestra, Hawke’s Bay Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony National Youth Orchestra, and various opera and musical theater ensembles. As Concertmaster of the Massey University Chamber Orchestra and leader of the Massey String Quartet, Jennifer performed extensively in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay areas. A highlight for this ensemble was playing for Viggo Mortensen’s Photographic Exhibit as part of the Lord of the Rings movie premier. During this time Jennifer was a research assistant to Dr. Donald Maurice, Head of Strings NZ School of Music, working on his journal article (‘The Art of Vocal Fingering in String Playing’) in preparation for publication in the American String Teachers Journal. Jennifer was the Concertmaster of the New Jersey City University (NJCU) orchestra and led the Baroque Chamber Ensemble in its opera productions. She was Assistant Principal Violin with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra performing notably at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Principal Second Violin with the Camerata Orchestra at Merkin Hall, First Violin with the New York Metro Chamber Orchestra and was a member of several chamber ensembles in the New York metropolitan area. After graduation, she became an Adjunct Professor of Music at NJCU and regularly freelanced and taught privately in the area. Jennifer also worked as research assistant to Dr. Michael Beckerman NYU, music scholar and author, on his book and documentary about music composed in the Terezin Concentration Camp during the Holocaust. While living in Las Vegas (2010-2014), Jennifer played with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, LV Sinfonietta, Henderson Symphony Orchestra and Opera Las Vegas. She has also performed with Yo Yo Ma, Rod Stewart, Amici Opera Band, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Natalie Cole, Nelly Furtardo, Cee Lo Green, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, for the Latin Grammy Awards, Celtic Woman, Gloria Estefan, Andrea Bocelli, Carol King, Ricky Martin, Jordin Sparks and Rita Moreno. She was a String Specialist for the Clark County School District and was on the faculty at Nevada School of The Arts. As the ‘high strings coach’ for the Las Vegas Youth Philharmonic, she frequently was adjudicator for student competitions in the region. Currently Jennifer resides in Clarksville, TN with her husband who is a low brass multi-instrumentalist but prior to that she resided in Huntsville, Alabama. She was a First Violinist with the Huntsville Symphony and was Principal 2nd Violin of the Orchestra Sul Ponticello, First Violin sub. of Felicity String Quartet, in addition to playing regularly as a Soloist, Concertmaster and First Violinist with different church orchestras and groups around the Huntsville area. Before moving to Alabama, Jennifer was in Texas for 2 years playing with the Temple Symphony, Waco Symphony, and Round Rock Orchestras, was employed as a string specialist and coach/teacher for the Killeen and Belton School districts, and ran a very busy private teaching studio, in addition to group classes. Being based in Clarksville now, Jennifer does studio work and freelances regularly in the greater Nashville area. She regularly performs with the Paducah Symphony in the First Violins, and was guest Principal 2nd Violin and Assistant Principal 2nd violin for concerts. No matter where she is living, Jennifer always has a busy private music studio with violin/viola students ranging in age, from 3 years old to adults.
START YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY NOW! Bio. is pinned to the top of this page! She achieved graduation diplomas upon completion of all ten Suzuki Method books.
