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Jessica Clare Blenis

Discipline/Expertise: Music. I have graduated with my B.Mus degree at M.U.N on violin as a theory and composition major and I am a composer.

1887 Route 820, Upham NB, E5N 3G1  506 832-5965

Jessica_21_@hotmail.com

 Website: www.blogger.com/profile/01003274845241275286  

Other electronic addresses: www.facebook.com/jess.blenis

Background and Training: I began violin at age 10 in the District 6 violin program, earned a B.Mus degree at the Memorial University of Newfoundland’s School of Music in 2010. Have taken private lessons on violin with Sarah Mills, Rachel Kidd, Paul Campbell, Ericka Low and Nancy Dahn. Have studied composition with Clark Ross, Kjellrun Hestekin, Scott Godin and Andrew Staniland. 

Achievements:

Concertmaster of the District 6 Senior string orchestra.
Travelled to Florida twice with said orchestra in 2004 and 2006
 Travelled to Italy with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra in 2005 where a CD was recorded.
Travelled to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2007 Accepted into Theory and Composition, 2009 
Won for Terra Nova Band Composition Competition in 2009 
Won an Arts and Letters award for a composition in 2010-05-03 
Won for Terra Nova Band Composition Competition in 2010-05-03
 Accepted into Music Education at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2010

Productions: I play violin as an orchestral violinist- I have played with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, the District 6 Senior Orchestra, Symphony New Brunswick and the Memorial University Chamber Orchestra. I write music for classical instruments on a regular basis, and take commissions.

 Career Highlights:

Traveling to Florida, Russia and Italy,
Winning the Terra Nova Composition competition twice,
Winning the Arts and Letters award,
Being accepted into theory and composition, graduating with a B. Mus and being accepted into Music Education for 2010.

Artist Statement: I play a great deal of different styles of music on the violin- everything from fiddle music to classical music, and have played backup for folk artists (ex. Played violin for “Catcher,” a band from St. John’s Newfoundland, and the CD will be released in May/June 2010) fiddle music while busking, I often play at weddings, teach young children violin and I compose for almost all instruments.  

Areas of Focus: Playing gigs, playing in orchestras, teaching violin, composing music for ensembles.

 Future: Having just graduated with a B. Mus from the Memorial Unversity of Newfoundland, I have been accepted into the Music Education as a Second Degree at Memorial as well. Once this is accomplished, I plan to do a Masters in Composition, though have not set my sights on any schools in particular yet. Ideally, I would love to teach private violin lessons, play in a symphony and compose music to support myself in the future.  