Mrs. Jennifer Petry

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Teacher, Parent

Jennifer Petry

Jennifer Petry graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in both Music Performance and Music Education. She has been teaching for over twenty years.  She did her teacher training both through summer institutes and long-term teacher training (Hartt School of Music) in violin, cello and bass, studying under Teri Einfeldt, Pamela Devenport, Ronda Cole, Joanne Martin, Virginia Dixon and Gilda Barston, among others.

In Oregon, Jennifer taught orchestra classes to children in grades 3-8 in the Salem-Keizer public school system and received the Outstanding Salem Educator “Teacher of the Year” Award at the elementary school level in 1999. She worked closely with the orchestra at Sprague High School, one of the few high schools in America to receive a Grammy Award for music.

In Connecticut, she taught at the Hartt School of Music’s Community Division for three years, and at the Suzuki Summer Institute in Hartford for several years. She was a frequent guest conductor for the youth orchestras in Hartford. Jennifer started and ran her own music school, teaching private lessons in violin, viola, cello, and bass and running five orchestras. She put together and conducted a full symphony orchestra for four of those years, and ran a chamber music camp in the summers. Many of her students received honors in competitions and regional orchestras throughout the New England area, and several won first chair positions in Regional, All-State and All-New England Orchestras. Many of Jennifer’s students have gone on to study music performance in college, and start a career in music.

Jennifer has presented techniques of string instruction at various conferences and camps throughout the country for both traditional and adaptive teaching. She is the founder and co-director of the Cincinnati Adaptive MusicCamp. The camp is in its fourth year, and helps children with limb differences learn how to play musical instruments.

Jennifer and her husband, Dan, have adopted and are raising six children with various special needs. Jennifer and her family currently live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where she directs the orchestras at Veritas Academy and runs a Suzuki music program for students playing the violin, viola, cello and bass.

Jennifer Petry graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in both Music Performance and Music Education.  She has been teaching private lessons for over twenty-five years, and has performed in several orchestras including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Forks Symphony. While living in Oregon, Mrs. Petry taught orchestra classes to children in grades 3-8 in the Salem-Keizer public school system (Oregon) and was awarded the Outstanding Salem Educator “Teacher of the Year” Award at the elementary school level in 1999.  She worked closely with Sprague High School, one of the few high schools in America to receive a Grammy Award for music. She taught a clinic at the music educator conference in Eugene, Oregon, and has adjudicated for several festivals including All State. While in Connecticut, Mrs. Petry taught at the Hartt School of Music’s Community Division for three years, and at the Suzuki Summer Institute in Hartford.  She was a frequent guest conductor for the youth orchestras in Hartford.  She started and ran her own music school which consisted of private lessons in violin, viola, cello, and bass and five orchestras with members ranging from 5-20 years old.  She put together and conducted a symphony orchestra for four of those years, and ran a chamber music camp in the summers.  Currently Mrs. Petry resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where she teaches private lessons, directs the orchestras at Veritas Academy, and runs a chamber music camp in the summers. Mrs. Petry’s students have received honors in competitions and regional orchestras throughout the New England and Pennsylvania area, and several have achieved first chair positions in Regional, All-State and All-New England Orchestras.   Many of her students have gone on to study music performance in college, and start a career in music.  In addition to teaching, Jennifer has presented adaptive musical teaching at several conferences around the United States, and has published music teaching articles in the SAA Journal and the Strad Magazine. Mrs. Petry is co-director of the Cincinnati Adaptive Music Camp, a non-profit endeavor which aids students with limb differences in learning how to play an instrument.