Jessica graduated from Hofstra University with a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Design in Jazz & Multicultural Music in 2007. While completing her degree, she was able to develop, write, and implement curriculum ideas advised by Dr. David Lalama and Dr. Nathalie Robinson. In 2012, Jessica developed the Orchestral Curriculum for the Sewanhaka Central High School District, which has been implemented at her site at Elmont Memorial H.S., infusing jazz and multicultural music into the traditional classical repertoire.
Her students continue to thrive under her tutelage and have received many accolades from the National Association for Music Education (Nafme), New York Schools Music Association (NYSSMA), Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA), and the National High School Musical Theater Awards (the Jimmy Awards) whose current award winner is former instrumental/vocal student Ekele Ukegbu for Aida (2019). In Spring 2020, the students of Elmont High School will participate in a performance workshop led by Grammy-award winning multi-instrumentalist David DeJesus and Golden Globe award winning jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Kenneth Ascher who will guest perform with the ensemble.
Jessica is also an active musician and woodwind doubler (saxophone & clarinet). She performs with the Metropolitan Music Community and various musical theaters and ensembles in the Tri-State area. Her recent performances include Carnegie Hall under the direction of Brian Worsdale and tours with The Long Island Winds under the direction of James McRoy at the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Town Hall in Australia during the Summer 2018.
As a Classical, Contemporary, and Jazz flautist, Jessica has studied with Patricia Spencer, Susan Glaser, Jan Vinci, Wendy Rohl, NY Philharmonic flautist Renee Siebert, Brazilian flautist, composer, and educator Fernando Brandão, and jazz artist, educator, and author of the UNLOCK series & Jazz Licks Sarpay Özçagatay. In 2016, Jessica traveled to Valencia, Spain to perform and continue her jazz studies with Alan Chase, Victor Mendoza and Alon Yovani in a performance program at Berklee College of Music with a focus in Latin Jazz, which led to continued studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
