Jenny Bray – Pianist, Singer, Songwriter and Director of Yorkshire Wolds Suzuki Piano
Qualifications: BSMA, SEIi, Suzuki Cymru, Dip ABRSM, Dip Perf. Arts York St. John University, Piano The Juilliard School. Piano Teacher’s Assoc.
Born in Norwich, I started playing the piano at age three – I could read music before I could read words – and my musical career developed throughout my life, with my passion leading me to practice piano, guitar, oboe, violin, clarinet, timpani, percussion and pipe organ and, finally, specialise in the piano. During the first year of my degree at York’s St. John, I received the highest mark the University had ever awarded for choreography.
My career has been diverse and has covered all aspects of the performing arts; my music career ranges from touring with the Princeton Ballet Company to performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and I am well-versed in classical, contemporary, jazz and popular music, as well as regularly performing in the United States, where my credits also include being a featured artist on Philadelphia National Public Radio among other achievements.
My love of music and performance led me to further explore my skills of communicating through this universal language and promoting development. I currently teach and direct Yorkshire Wolds Suzuki Piano and The Wolf Gang children’s storytelling group alongside my longstanding career as a singer and songwriter where I perform original material.
Inspired by my jazz pianist father and opera singer mother and their love for music, I have also taught Music Therapy in children’s hospitals, where I hope and believe this medium can make a difference for the better and I am committed to further accessibility to music and exploring potential for all my students and beyond.
