about
Dana Jessen (b. 1983, Chicago) is a versatile musician embracing all periods of music while focusing on the development of contemporary repertoire and improvisation. She can be seen performing a broad range of styles from Bach and Telemann to Denisov, Stockhausen and Gubaidulina. Her ambitions to explore jazz and contemporary improvisation have led to numerous performances throughout the country including a concert at The STONE in New York City with guitarist Joe Morris.
Dana's passion and dedication to chamber music has led to collaborations with musicians throughout the world. She has performed with a variety of new music and improvisation ensembles including Harvard Group for New Music, Callithumpian Consort, Anthony Coleman's Retake Iowa and LAUNCH! Trio. She is co-founder of Sonic Circus, an electro-acoustic duo with saxophonist Michael Straus. Their recent collaborations with turntablist DJ Dubble8 and composer Katarina Miljkovic led them on a New England tour, performing at New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce College, Cambridge's Lily Pad and the Boston CyberArts Festival.
Dana's strong ties with the Boston improvisation scene can be seen by her regular performances at the Music Workshop in Hyde Park, Rutman's Violins and Brookline Tai Chi. She also maintains a duo with saxophonist Christopher Veilleux, recently leading them to a lecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on contemporary improvisation techniques and John Zorn's composition Cobra.
Regularly involved in the commissioning of new music, Dana has premiered chamber works as well as solo repertoire specifically written for her. She can be heard on both Mode and New World Records with Stephen Drury's Callithumpian Consort and Anthony Coleman's Retake Iowa.
As an orchestral musician, Dana has held positions with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Sinfonietta and has performed with the Toledo Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Atlantic Symphony and Acadiana Symphony Orchestras. Her summer festival credits include attendance at the Sarasota, Brevard and Colorado College Music Festivals.
Dana holds a Master's degree with academic honors in bassoon performance from the New England Conservatory. While at NEC she was a graduate theory teaching assistant for several classes including Music Since 1945. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in bassoon performance from Louisiana State University where she was a two-time winner of the Louisiana Music Award and awarded a full tuition scholarship. Her teachers have included Nora Schankin, Barrick Stees, Michael Kroth, William Ludwig, Richard Svoboda, and Greg Henegar.
Downloadable CV (updated 08/07).