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Featuring jazz vocals with bass trumpet and guitar, Dr. Jester and the Kings of Swing delight audiences with old school sounds and a side of education, too. "Jennifer Jester is a vocalist, musician, educator, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Jennifer’s music of choice is steeped in jazz, rock, pop, Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, new-grass, and contemporary pop. Her musical origins developed from an early age. By age three, Jennifer began to experiment or “dink” around on the piano keys, which quickly led to lessons around age four. Around 5th grade, Jennifer picked up one of many aerophones, including the flute and a baritone horn by the 7th grade.
The musical upbringing led to performances in marching bands and concerts, which led to a collegiate study of bass trumpet, trombone, and euphonium. Jennifer holds a DMA in Euphonium performance, an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts with a concentration in euphonium, African dance/drumming, and world music, a BS in Music Performance from Arizona State University, and a Music Business Certificate from the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA. Jennifer worked as an executive director for the International Tuba Euphonium Association, the Tuba Euphonium Press, and Managing Director of Community Concerts at Second Administration for the Washington Symphonic Brass. Following those positions, Jennifer was assistant professor at Millersville University in Lancaster, PA, the Director of Music Business and Technology, and the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Education from 2009-2013 and resigned to pursue artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors. Musical performance includes work with the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s River City Brass Band, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Balkan Brass Ensemble, the CalArts Liberation Music Orchestra, Chicano Power Revival, Orchestra Latin Jazz Ensemble, off-Broadway productions, and many other projects. Jennifer currently teaches at Millersville University in the Tell School of Music, Music Industry Program with a focus on Live Audio, Commercial Ensemble, Modern Band, Applied Euphonium and Tuba Lessons, Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, and African Dance and Drumming. To learn more about that program, visit the Tell School of Music website.
As a disciplined and creative musician, Jennifer incorporates a rich musical background with many experiences in multiple genres. It does not seem to matter which genre Jennifer experiments with, because everything turns to gold. Jennifer’s creative, strong, driven, contemplative, and assertive qualities are shaped from years of intensive academic study, personal growth and performances, and entrepreneurial endeavors. For Jennifer, the music is an extension of self that is “sometimes fun…whimsical…alluring….” The music lives up to Jennifer’s last name, as the music is very entertaining, playful and diverse. All seriousness aside, Jennifer loves to collect Jester-related items, which are housed in a bathroom. In addition, Jennifer spends time writing new age music for relaxation, cooking, and traveling. Jennifer admires Allison Krauss and Union Station’s new-grass music, along with the vibrant horns of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
The musical diversity of Jennifer's music rests in the multiple instruments and genres utilized, because “my life is a fabric woven of many colors.” As a singer and dancer, Jennifer’s cross-cultural influences range from off-Broadway productions, to classical, jazz, salsa, Latin, pop, rock, and world music genres. The musical goals revolve around a nurtured talent that shape the present musical foundation, as well as future musical outcomes. Jennifer’s goals would be “performing regularly in theaters and nice venues around the world, [discovering] an abundance of people that enjoy my music, [and the ability] to continue [making] beautiful music for the rest of my life.” Furthermore, Jennifer believes “people need more ways to connect with others…that is what I try to provide through my music—these magical moments of connection.” Music is the most “beautiful, powerful medium to communicate with people with or without words.”
Jennifer believes “we all have a little ‘Jester’ inside of us that just wants to have fun!”
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Pressroom Restaurant, 26-28 W King St # 28,Lancaster,PA,United States