Jennifer Reason

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Jennifer is a vibrant young pianist who is in constant and diverse demand throughout the country. In addition to over 15 years of professional experience, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in 2007 under the tutelage of renowned concert pianist Richard Cionco. Other teachers with substantial influence on Jennifer's career include Natuski Fukasawa, Lorna Peters, and Kirsten Smith.

Jennifer gave her first solo recital at age 5 and by the tender age of 12 had already received her first Staff Pianist position. Hailed by German critics as a "rising star" who's playing is "lush, sensual and colorful-like a painting," she has appeared in solo and ensemble performances all over the world, with international appearances including Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and British Columbia, and state-side engagements including New York, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Omaha and Seattle. In 2006, Jennifer was ... > Read moreinvited to participate in the prestigious Schlern International Music Festival in Italy, where she not only was given the opportunity to study with Yakov Gelfand--Head of Piano, Moscow Conservatory, but also gave 11 performances to critical acclaim in the castles and cathedrals of the Italian Alps. She has recieved an invitation to return to the festival in late 2011, and will be joining the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Germany in summer 2011 as well. Finally, Jennifer is looking forward to making her Carnegie Hall debut in May of 2012.

Jennifer also performs extensively in the Sacramento area and has recently shared the stage with such great musicians as Michael Carabello (founding member of Santana-Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Jonathan Cain (Journey), Peppino D'Agostino (2007 Best Acoustic Guitarist, Reader's Choice Awards), Jerry Martini (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--Sly and the Family Stone), Steven Mackey (Princeton, composer-in-residence), and Hope Briggs (San Fransisco Opera). She is also a frequent collaborator with singer Holly Stell ("Little Pavarotti") and violin virtuoso Carlos Reyes.

Awards include 6 Command Performances, the Bank of America Achievement Award in Music, Stars of the New Millenium Award, induction into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Saturday Club Music Appreciation Scholarship recipient, Sacramento Regional Community Foundation Scholarship recipient, First Place at the Festival of New American Music Competition, and a Special Citation from the International Association for Jazz Education for Outstanding Musicianship. Jennifer has also received two guest performer slots on the Sacramento cable TV show "Livewire."

Jennifer believes that music is one of the most powerful ways to reach and inspire people, and so makes a point of participating in benefit concerts as often as possible, including the following: In April 2007 she was selected to be one of 9 musicians from across the US to perform in an Omaha gala concert benefitting Project Harmony, an organization dedicated to protecting abused children. In 2009, Jennifer joined big names such as Holly Stell, Billy Bob Thornton, and Tony La Russa to perform for the benefit of ARF, an organization devoted to the rescue of abused animals. And, to kick off 2010, she and Holly Stell joined members of the Doobie Brothers, Santana, Taj Mahal, and Tower of Power for the 6th Annual Voices of Latin Rock to raise money for autism awareness in the United States. Finally, Jennifer is a recent addition to the Reconciliation Singers-Voices of Peace, who donate 100% of their concert proceeds to charities nationwide. (www.rsvpchoir.org)

Jennifer has many musical interests extending beyond her classical roots and is proud to be a founding member of the four year old New American Music ensemble Citywater, a group "devoted to the creation and performance of exciting new works by contemporary composers." The group has just been appointed Ensemble-In-Residence at California State University, Sacramento(www.citywatermusic.com). Jennifer was also a founding member of the group C-Sus, a Sacramento-based vocal jazz ensemble, who in 2006 was honored with the Downbeat Award "Best Collegiate Vocal Jazz Ensemble in the US and Canada." Finally, Jennifer enjoys working behind the scenes as well, playing lead keyboards and working as rehearsal coach for staged works. She has over 12 major productions to her credit, most recently including Chorus Line, All Shook Up, Hello Dolly, Merry Wives of Windsor, Kismet, The Magic Flute, Wedding Singer, Little Shop of Horrors, The Mikado, and Les Miserables.

In addition to her other fields, Jennifer has a long-standing passion for collaborative piano and has worked as Staff Accompanist at Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College, California State University, Sacramento, Townsend Opera Players, and the Sacramento Children' Chorus. (www.sacramentochildrenschorus.org) She continues to be called upon to accompany both vocalists and instrumentalists all over the state.
When not performing, Jennifer enjoys maintaining an extensive private piano studio, as well as working as a freelance studio musician.

Styles: Accompanist, Arts Education, Ballads, Baroque, Blues, Chamber music, Classic Rock, Classical, Coach - Music, Dance, Theatre, Easy Listening, Experimental Repertoire, Folk, Funk, Gospel & Spiritual, Holiday Music, Inspirational, Jazz, Classic, Jazz, Contemporary, Latin American, Movie Scores, New Age, Opera, Pianist, rehearsals, Piano Teacher, Recitals, Rock, Show Tunes, Spiritual, Standards, Teach Youth Enrichment Program, Teacher, Touring Performances, Traditional Arts, Waltzes, Wedding Music

Instruments: Piano, Keyboard, Synthesizer