Jennifer Grantham is an educator and musician based in New York City, and is currently serving as the Program and Production Coordinator for Jazz House KiDS newest partnership, Jazz House @ Trinity, located in lower Manhattan.
Grantham’s career began in Michigan, where, while attending Central Michigan University studying saxophone with Professor John Nichol, she discovered the impact one can have on the lives of children through music education. She continued her education at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she was able to explore jazz studies and jazz education with Professor Rick VanMatre and Dr. James Bunte. After graduating with her Masters degree, she worked for the Preparatory Department at CCM, going on to found the CCM Summer Jazz Academy, the Cincinnati Youth Jazz Orchestra, and manage a thriving jazz program that impacted the lives of hundreds of kids throughout her tenure. In addition to her work at CCM Preparatory Department, Jennifer was an in-demand private lesson instructor, working with students at all levels, from beginners creating their first, wonderful sounds to student artists with burgeoning careers in jazz and classical performance.
Jennifer’s crowning achievement while in Cincinnati was being selected to serve on the council that produced the We Create Jazz festival, a women–focused jazz performance and education event throughout the greater–Cincinnati area. In addition to managing events and marketing for this multi–venue, multi–date festival, Jennifer founded and directed Cincinnati’s first all–female big band.
As a classical and commercial musician in Cincinnati, Grantham performed with the Springfield Symphony, Seven Hills Sinfonietta, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, the Flying Circus Big Band, and with international performers such as Idina Menzel and The Temptations. Grantham has also performed at numerous regional, national, and international conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance and World Saxophone Congress, and was a featured soloist at the Midwest Clinic. Additionally, Jennifer performs in a variety of other styles and settings, including salsa, funk and fusion, wedding bands, and as a reed player, has performed in over 50 musicals.