Jennifer Hobbs holds a dual A.B. from Bowdoin College in Music and History, and a Master of Music (Education and Performance) from the University of Connecticut.
Ms. Hobbs’ study of violin began at the age of three with Yuko Takahashi (student of Dr. Shin’ichi Suzuki). During high school she studied violin at Yale University with Paul Kantor and the piano at The Hartt School of Music with Betty Winograd. In her college and post-graduate years, Ms. Hobbs studied violin with Stephen Kecskemethy (Bowdoin College), Thomas Moore (University of Miami, School of Music) and Emlyn Ngai (The Hartt School). She studied chamber music with Stephen Kecskemethy and Julia Adams (viola), members of the Portland String Quartet. At the University of Connecticut her coursework focused on education, performance practices, music history, and educational philosophy; she is a Suzuki Method pedagogist. Ms. Hobbs studied instrumental conducting with Jeffrey Renshaw, and sight-singing, choral methods, and children’s vocal development with Mary Ellen Junda.
Before her hire at Kent School (CT), she was the Assistant Manager for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra; her responsibilities included coordinating the Music in the Schools program and being the guest artist liaison and on-site host. In this position, she was able to work with many great artists including Dave Brubeck, Emmanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Judy Collins, and Tony Bennett.
Ms. Hobbs is a core violinist with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (CT) and performs as a soloist and chamber/orchestral musician throughout New England. Her students have participated in numerous honors ensembles and competitions, including CMEA All-State, NAfME All-Nationals, the Carnegie Hall Youth Honors programs, and the Tanglewood Pre-College Summer Program.
