Jennifer Hemken

Master of Music, Auburn University, 1996
(graduate teaching assistant)
Bachelor of Music, Michigan State University, 1992

Additional Coursework:
14 credits of graduate piano with Cary Lewis at
Georgia State University (1998-2001)
Scholarship Horn Major, Aspen Music Festival (1998-1999)


A native of rural Iowa, Jennifer Hemken began playing the piano at the age of three with her grandmother. She later started horn at age ten. After playing both instruments through high school, she majored in horn during college, and she received her bachelor's and master's degrees in horn performance from Michigan State University and Auburn University. While pursuing her master's degree, Jennifer commuted to Atlanta for lessons with Cary Lewis (piano) and Brice andrus (horn). she then moved to Atlanta where she won a job as a pianist for The Atlanta Ballet (1996-2002) and worked professionally on horn.

Jennifer has performed in The Aspen Music Festival (1998-1999), and she has worked as a collaborative pianist at the Interlochen Arts Camp (2002-2005). She has been a soloist for Interlochen (horn and piano), The Emory Brass Ensemble (piano), The Atlanta Ballet (piano), and The Auburn University Symphonic Band (horn).

She has studied horn with Dan Gingrich, Dale Clevenger, and Jon Boen, and she has worked as a pianist for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Jennifer also enjoys teaching both horn and piano.

MTHP News and local events

The next Fourth Monday Recital, the Gala Concert with various performers from MTHP, will take place on November 24, 2008, 7:30 PM at Blackstone Library. .

News of our members

Laura Fenster will be performing music by Alexander Scriabin and Sergei Rachmaninoff in a live broadcast on WFMT, Friday Nov. 21 at 12:15 PM from Sherwood Conservatory.

News of our students

The next MTHP student recital will take place on December 13, 11 AM at Blackstone Library. Contact person is Doris.

Interesting articles and links

At the New York Times, an article about new software that can edit out wrong notes in recordings

from the New York Times: The Academy - teaching music in the NY public schools