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Join Dylana Jenson’s Exclusive Performance Training Group
Presently, Dylana Jenson is the Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice in Violin and Viola at the University of Notre Dame. Jenson’s background includes 50 years of international travel as a violin soloist, and teaching at the university level as a Distinguished Professor. Jenson established the String Academy of Grand Rapids with over 50 violin students, many of whom performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto 1st movement with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Dylana Jenson’s passion for bringing classical music to inner city children led her to teach violin to 1st and 2nd graders at the Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology, a charter inner city school in Grand Rapids, MI.
A combination of careful attention to technical details and inspiring musical freedom are paramount to Jenson’s teaching approach.
EDUCATION
1990-1991 Juilliard School, Full Scholarship, mentored with Dorothy Delay
1976 Masterclass with Isaac Stern
1975-1978 Private study with Josef Gingold
1973-1977 Private study with Nathan Milstein
1968-1973 Private study with Manuel Compinsky
FACULTY EMPLOYMENT
2020-present Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice in Violin and Viola, University of Notre Dame, IN
2014 -2019 Artistic Director, String Academy of Grand Rapids, MI
2014-2015 Artist in Residence, Grand Rapids Community College, Art
Outreach Suzuki, MI
2012-2013 Visiting Artist, Andrews University, MI
2000-2008 Distinguished Professor, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
2005, 2006 Interlochen Arts Summer Camp, MI
1994, 2005 Heifetz International Summer Institute
1980-1982 Hebrew Arts School, NY
HONORS AND AWARDS
2000 Distinguished Professor position awarded by Grand Valley State University President Arend Lubbers, Allendale, MI
1981 Grammy Award Nomination for RCA digital recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Saint Saens Introduction and
Rondo Capriccioso, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, Conductor
1978 Tchaikovsky Competition, Silver Medal, Moscow, Soviet Union (first American woman and youngest ever)
1973 Honorary Citizen of Costa Rica with Diplomatic Passport
MASTERCLASSES AND WORKSHOPS (partial list)
2021 Virtual Live Online Masterclass from the University of Notre Dame
2020 University of Notre Dame Live International Online Masterclass
2020 University of Notre Dame Live Online Masterclass
2020 E.T. Violin Studio, Costa Rica, Online Live Masterclass
2017 Interlochen Arts Academy Violin Institute
2017 Baltimore School for the Arts, MD
2017 Peabody Institute, MD
2013, 2014, 2015 Intensive Workshops, Grand Rapids, MI
2013 Pasadena Conservatory, CA
2013 Short clip from Masterclass at Pasadena Conservatory
2013 El Sistema Academia Nacional de Violin, Venezuela
2013 Conservatory of Music, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2011, 2012 Sam Houston State University, TX
2010, 2011 Carson-Newman College, TN
2010, 2013 Calvin College String Summit, MI
2007 The Hill School, PA
2007 Indian Hill Music, MA
2006 Suzuki Retreat, Chico, CA
2005, 2006 St Cecilia Music School, MI
2004, 2005 Interlochen Arts Academy, MI
2004 Interlochen Arts Summer Camp, MI
2000-2008 Grand Valley State University, MI
1998 Music Institute of Long Island, NY
1995, 1996 Peabody Institute, MD
1993, 1996 Amarillo College, TX
1992, 1993 Arizona State University, AZ
1990 University of Wisconsin, WI
1984 Clayton State College, GA
1983 Kent State University, OH
1979 Hebrew Arts School, NY
1978-2016 Various Suzuki Institutes, US
1977 University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
1973-2015 Centro Nacional de la Musica, Costa Rica
RECORDINGS
2007 London Symphony Orchestra
David Lockington, conductor
Shostakovich Violin Concerto Opus 99, No. 1
Barber Violin Concerto
2005 Live at Carnegie Hall, Grand Rapids Symphony
David Lockington, conductor
Goldmark Violin Concerto
1998 New Mexico Symphony
David Lockington, conductor
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Allegretto non troppo – Allegro
molto vivace
1982 RCA
Brahms Sonatas for Violin and Piano
Samuel Sanders, piano
1980 Lodz Philharmonic
Wojciech Michniewski, conductor
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
1980 RCA
Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy, conductor
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
1978 Moscow State Philharmonic
Pavel Kogan, conductor
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Sibelius Violin Concerto
1973 Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica
Gerald Brown, conductor
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
VIDEOS, YOUTUBE
2021 The Classical Music Podcast interview
2016 Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference Presentation:
‘Twinkle your way to Tchaikovsky’
2012 TedX Pura Vida Costa Rica:
‘¿en el pasado...era usted, Dylana Jenson?’
2012 Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado Asturias, Spain,
David Lockington, conductor
2011 Tchaikovsky Concerto Live, CityMusic Cleveland, Joel Smirnoff, conductor
2005 Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Allegro non troppo
1983 Beethoven Violin Concerto, Sinfonica National de Costa Rica,
David Lockington, conductor
1981 Sibelius Concerto Live with Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene
Ormandy, conductor
1980 Saint Saens Concerto Live Sinfonica National de Costa Rica
1978 Tchaikovsky Concerto and Paganini La Campanella,
Sinfonica National de Costa Rica
1976 Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Sinfonica National de Costa Rica
1975 Beethoven ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata, Live German Television, Alain
Planes, piano
1972 Tchaikovsky Concerto Live, Sinfonica National de Costa Rica,
Gerald Brown, conductor
1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980 Various interviews, performances and documentaries
PRESS
2015 Pasadena Star-News: “As David Lockington noted before the Pasadena Symphony’s Feb. 14 concert, the concerto’s (Shostakovich Concerto Op. 99) dark, brooding first movement and the sardonic sections that follow make for a strange Valentine’s Day card. But that’s what Lockington, the orchestra’s music director, and his wife of 33 years, violinist Dylana Jenson, offered to a large, enthusiastic audience at Ambassador Auditorium.
Jenson, 53, rarely appears as a soloist these days and the obvious question, based on Saturday’s spellbinding performance, is “why?” She plumbed the dark mysteries of the opening Nocturne and then tore into the remaining sections, which stretch any violinist’s technical capability to the limit, with almost demonic fury.”
2014 String Academy announcement
2013 Academia Nacional de Violin, Venezuela
2013 Strad Magazine
2011 Review Tchaikovsky Concerto, Cleveland Plain Dealer
2010 Violinist.com Interview
2010 InstantEncore
1981 Review New York Times of Sibelius RCA recording
1980 ‘a mature master’ New York Times review of Sibelius Concerto
ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYMENT
2014-2019 Founder and Artistic Director, String Academy of Grand Rapids, MI.
Supervision of 72 violin and cello students, 5 teachers, administration of budget over $60,000, program development, organizing concerts and recruitment, fund raising, merchandise sales, website management and public relations
2014-2017 Coordinator and Instructor, Ellington School of Arts and Technology, MI
Supervision of program and instruction, 1st and 2nd grades students at the inner-city charter school
SOLO ENGAGEMENTS WITH ORCHESTRA (partial list)
Albany Symphony, NY
Abilene Philharmonic, TX
Amarillo Symphony, TX
Arapahoe Philharmonic, CO
Arizona State University Orchestra, AZ
Asheville Symphony Orchestra, TN
Augusta Symphony Orchestra, GA
Bach Society Orchestra, Harvard University, MA
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, MD
Bayer Philharmonic, Germany
Berlin Radio Symphony, Germany
Bochum Orchestra, Germany
Boise Philharmonic, ID
Bonn Orchestra, Germany
Brevard Symphony, NC
Buffalo Symphony, NY
California Chamber Orchestra, CA
Canton Symphony Orchestra, OH
CityMusic Cleveland, OH
Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, NM
Charleston Symphony Orchestra, SC
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, NC
Cheyenne Symphony, WY
Chicago Sinfonietta, IL
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, OH
Cleveland Orchestra, OH
Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra, CO
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, CO
Columbus Symphony Orchestra, OH
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, TX
Dayton Philharmonic, OH
Denver Symphony Orchestra, CO
Denver Young Artists Orchestra, CO (tour of England)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, MI
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, IA
Duluth-Superior Symphony, MN
El Paso Symphony Orchestra, TX
English Chamber Orchestra, United Kingdom
Evansville Philharmonic, ID
Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, ND
Festival of 1000 Oaks Orchestra, CA
Flagstaff Symphony, AZ
Florida Gulf Coast Symphony, FL
Florida Symphony Orchestra, FL
Florida West Coast Symphony, FL
Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, CO
Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, Germany
Frankfurt Orchestra, Germany
Galveston Symphony Orchestra
Gelsenkirchen Orchestra, Germany
Gothenburg Youth Orchestra, Sweden
Grand Rapids Symphony, MI
Grand Rapids Youth Orchestra, MI
Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, MI
Greeley Philharmonic, CO
Greenville Symphony Orchestra,
Hartford Symphony, CT
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, HI
Houston Symphony Orchestra, TX
Hudson Valley Philharmonic, NY
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, IN
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, IN
Israel Chamber Orchestra, Israel
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, MI
Kansas City Symphony, MO
Kent Philharmonia, MI
Kingsport Symphony, TN
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, TN
Licking County Symphony Orchestra, OH
Lodz Philharmonic, Poland
Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, CA
Long Island Philharmonic, NY
Los Angeles Philharmonic, CA
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, LA
Louisville Orchestra, KY
Mankato Symphony Orchestra, MN
Marin Symphony Orchestra, CA
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australia
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, WI
Minnesota Orchestra, MN
Modesto Symphony, CA
Ulaanbaatar Symphony, Mongolia
Moscow State Philharmonic, Soviet Union
Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, NY
Napa Valley Youth Orchestra, CA
New Britain Symphony, CT
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, NM
New Orleans Philharmonic, LA
New Philharmonic of New Jersey, NJ
New York Philharmonic, NY
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, NC
Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, PA
Nuremberg Philharmonic, Germany
Oakland Symphony, CA
Omaha Sinfonia, NE
Omaha Symphony Orchestra, NE
Orquesta Filharmonica de la Universidad, Mexico
Orquesta Sinfónica del SODRE, Uruguay
Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, Costa Rica
Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, El Salvador
Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, Spain
Pasadena Symphony, CA
Philadelphia Orchestra, PA
Philharmonia Virtuosi, NY
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australia
Rhode Island Philharmonic, RI
Rochester Symphony Orchestra, NY
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, MO
San Francisco Symphony, CA
San Jose Symphony Orchestra, CA
San Juan Symphony, Puerto Rico
Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra, CA
Seattle Symphony, WA
South Bend Symphony Orchestra, ID
South Dakota Symphony
Spokane Symphony Orchestra, WA
Stockton Symphony Orchestra, CA
Sudwestfunk Symphony-Lucerne Festival, Switzerland
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australia
Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, NY
The Boston Pops Orchestra, MA
Tucson Symphony Orchestra, AZ
Tulare County Symphony Orchestra, CA
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
Victoria Symphony, BC, Canada
Waterloo Festival Orchestra, NY
West Shore Symphony Orchestra, MI
Wichita Symphony Orchestra, KS
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Canada
Yakima Symphony Orchestra, WA
Yale Symphony Orchestra, MA
RECITALS (partial list)
2017 Interlochen Arts School, Violin Institute
2007 Calvin College Great Artists Series, MI with Avi Reichert, piano
2004 Cleveland Chamber Music Society, OH
2004 Gilmore Festival, MI with Avi Reichert, piano
2003 Indiana University, IN with Brian Ganz, piano
2001, 2003, 2006
Grand Valley State University, MI with Robert Byrens, piano and Avi Reichert, piano
1998 Vancouver Chamber Music Society, BC, Canada
1996 Suzuki Institute, Stevens Point, WI
1989 The Hill School, PA
1987 Wynmoor Community College, FL
1986 92nd Street Y, NY
1985 Recital tour of Australia
1985 Anchorage Chamber Music Society, AK
1985 Sydney Opera House, Australia
1985 Recital tour of Japan
1983 Kent State University, OH
1982 Carnegie Hall, NY
1982 Hebrew Arts School, New York
1981 Various venues in France and Germany
1979 Suzuki Institutes, US
1979 Recital tour of Soviet Union
1976 Gstaad, Switzerland (substituted for Nathan Milstein)
LANGUAGE
English Native
Spanish Proficient to facilitate international teaching, recruiting and Masterclasses
Dylana Jenson’s performance rate is $12,000 for a solo double with orchestra.