An epic selection of our favorite and most fantastic performances and projects.
Click through the slideshows to learn more about each one!
Click through the slideshows to learn more about each one!
Tiny Voices UNITE! Earth Day festival, Toast Studios, Portland, April 2023
I was delighted to receive a 2022 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Community Engagement Grant to produce this festival of audience-interactive concerts & eco-themed workshops designed by the students of Jennifer Wright Piano Studio.
At once, we celebrated Earth Day AND wielded music and creativity as agents of positive social change!
The funds we raised enabled us to plant 1,600 trees through Trees For The Future!
(Check out their amazing work creating sustainable forest gardens in sub-Saharan Africa at trees.org!)
I was delighted to receive a 2022 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Community Engagement Grant to produce this festival of audience-interactive concerts & eco-themed workshops designed by the students of Jennifer Wright Piano Studio.
At once, we celebrated Earth Day AND wielded music and creativity as agents of positive social change!
The funds we raised enabled us to plant 1,600 trees through Trees For The Future!
(Check out their amazing work creating sustainable forest gardens in sub-Saharan Africa at trees.org!)
Halloween Costume Concert at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Retirement Home, October 2022
At last, the return of one of our favorite traditions after a two-year pandemic hiatus: our annual spookalicious spectacular is back!
Hosted by The Humongous Fuzzy Moth, a hilarious cast of characters show that they have NOT forgotten how to HAVE FUN and BE FABULOUS!
At last, the return of one of our favorite traditions after a two-year pandemic hiatus: our annual spookalicious spectacular is back!
Hosted by The Humongous Fuzzy Moth, a hilarious cast of characters show that they have NOT forgotten how to HAVE FUN and BE FABULOUS!
"Menagerie" Animal-themed Concert at Toast Studios, June 2022
Composers have been penning odes to creatures great and small since the dawn of time, and this fun-filled concert was jam-packed with them! But was that all? Never! With the audience playing Animal Bingo during the show, creative creature-themed reception snacks, and a Balloon Animal party after, it was a wild day to remember!
Composers have been penning odes to creatures great and small since the dawn of time, and this fun-filled concert was jam-packed with them! But was that all? Never! With the audience playing Animal Bingo during the show, creative creature-themed reception snacks, and a Balloon Animal party after, it was a wild day to remember!
Celebrate Black History Month! Musical Heritage of the African Diaspora, February 2022
Our first indoors concert after the pandemic (hooray!!) is a wild ride of musical genres and styles celebrating the countless Black musical legends who inspire us! Solos, duos, and piano-vocal songs featured favorites by Scott Joplin, Aretha Franklin, TLC, Lil Nas X, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, The Weeknd, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Jidenna, and many more!
Our first indoors concert after the pandemic (hooray!!) is a wild ride of musical genres and styles celebrating the countless Black musical legends who inspire us! Solos, duos, and piano-vocal songs featured favorites by Scott Joplin, Aretha Franklin, TLC, Lil Nas X, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, The Weeknd, Otis Redding, Nina Simone, Jidenna, and many more!
Zach-tacular! outdoor piano festival, June 2021
This joyous outdoor concert celebrated the graduation of longtime student Zachary with loads of fabulous music, hula hoops, musical vegetables, and the world's tiniest (and most adorable!) T-Rex!
This joyous outdoor concert celebrated the graduation of longtime student Zachary with loads of fabulous music, hula hoops, musical vegetables, and the world's tiniest (and most adorable!) T-Rex!
Halloween Spooftacular Movie! October 2020
Every year at Halloween time, students of Jennifer Wright Piano Studio have an opportunity to volunteer to perform at a local retirement center in Portland, Oregon. Costumed to the hilt and chattily introducing themselves as the characters they are dressed up as, Jennifer and her students love to make the most of this chance to be silly, entertaining, and very, very punny! However, All Hallow's Eve of 2020 was quite a different story: with Covid-19 still spreading and retirement centers off-limits, the JWPS students decided to create a different type of Halloween entertainment: a concert in the form of a spoof-tacular send-up of classic black and white horror films! Enjoy!
Every year at Halloween time, students of Jennifer Wright Piano Studio have an opportunity to volunteer to perform at a local retirement center in Portland, Oregon. Costumed to the hilt and chattily introducing themselves as the characters they are dressed up as, Jennifer and her students love to make the most of this chance to be silly, entertaining, and very, very punny! However, All Hallow's Eve of 2020 was quite a different story: with Covid-19 still spreading and retirement centers off-limits, the JWPS students decided to create a different type of Halloween entertainment: a concert in the form of a spoof-tacular send-up of classic black and white horror films! Enjoy!
"Paint Your Intention" socially-distanced outdoor piano festival, August 2020
No indoor gatherings during pandemic lockdown? No worries!
We turned the Great Outdoors into a Great Opportunity for an incredible festival of music, sharing, community, and laughter!
Students masked up, slathered on hand sanitizer, and wowed the crowd with a fabulous mix of piano repertoire and hilarious experimental performances of their own original "Quarantine Haikus".
No indoor gatherings during pandemic lockdown? No worries!
We turned the Great Outdoors into a Great Opportunity for an incredible festival of music, sharing, community, and laughter!
Students masked up, slathered on hand sanitizer, and wowed the crowd with a fabulous mix of piano repertoire and hilarious experimental performances of their own original "Quarantine Haikus".
Documentary film premiere at the international New Music Gathering Festival, 2020
Everyone in the JWPS community was over the moon when we learned that our live show proposal was accepted into this prestigious, professional international festival of new art music! Our live event was postponed due to COVID-19, but we created an inspiring sort documentary film to chronicle the amazing adventures of our Phoenix Project for NMG 2020's reboot as an online festival. Watch the documentary here to see how we spent months making art in response to the global climate emergency!
"Brilliant Visions" concert at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Retirement Home, 2020
It was early 2020, and we had bright hopes for a fabulous year! Maybe we should have played LOUDER, because I don't think the year heard us. or maybe 2020 decided to test the strength of our vision!
It was early 2020, and we had bright hopes for a fabulous year! Maybe we should have played LOUDER, because I don't think the year heard us. or maybe 2020 decided to test the strength of our vision!
Halloween Costume Concert at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Retirement Home, October 2019
Anything and everything goes at our almost-annual Halloween extravaganza!
Anything and everything goes at our almost-annual Halloween extravaganza!
World Premiere movie screening of VOX UNIVERSALIS at The Clinton Street Theater, 2019
Students spent an entire year creating a feature-length science fiction movie FROM SCRATCH: brainstorming the plot, inventing the characters, writing the screenplay, filming it, acting in it, creating futuristic costume, hair and makeup designs, building props (including a small army of glowing mini-robots), and composing the music soundtrack AND sound effects!
It was a HUGE day when we all got to see the finished, 75-minute movie on the big screen at The Clinton Street Theater on October 6th, 2019!
Here's the official trailer:
Watch the full movie here!
Here are the pictures of our triumphant premiere screening!
Rainbow Costume Concert at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Retirement Home, 2019
To kick off Portland Pride, our students gave a joyous, colorful concert full of RAINBOW EVERYTHING! Students told stories, myths, legends, tall tales and jokes about rainbows and Jennifer made a triumphant rainbow cake.
To kick off Portland Pride, our students gave a joyous, colorful concert full of RAINBOW EVERYTHING! Students told stories, myths, legends, tall tales and jokes about rainbows and Jennifer made a triumphant rainbow cake.
Halloween Costume Concert at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Retirement Home, 2018
Hilarious speeches, incredible costumes, entertaining performances, great music - all in a (holi)day's work at Jennifer Wright Piano Studio!
Hilarious speeches, incredible costumes, entertaining performances, great music - all in a (holi)day's work at Jennifer Wright Piano Studio!
May The Forte Be With You STAR WARS COSTUME CONCERT, 2017
The most epic piano concert ever conceived, culminating in a 14-piano rendition of the Star Wars Main Title Theme, conducted with a light saber. Students created their own arrangements of classic Star Wars music themes, dressed in costumes, and introduced each piece with a movie-worthy original skit. AND we demolished a five-foot Death Star pinata afterwards.
The most epic piano concert ever conceived, culminating in a 14-piano rendition of the Star Wars Main Title Theme, conducted with a light saber. Students created their own arrangements of classic Star Wars music themes, dressed in costumes, and introduced each piece with a movie-worthy original skit. AND we demolished a five-foot Death Star pinata afterwards.
Audio Visual art/music concert, 2016
Each student created an original piece of visual or performance art that was inspired by their live performance repertoire in a wild variety of media: painting, sculpture, cymatics, videos, even installations of light and bubble machines! Several students collaborated with live artists and dancers. The artwork was displayed in a gallery setting in the venue foyer after the show.
Each student created an original piece of visual or performance art that was inspired by their live performance repertoire in a wild variety of media: painting, sculpture, cymatics, videos, even installations of light and bubble machines! Several students collaborated with live artists and dancers. The artwork was displayed in a gallery setting in the venue foyer after the show.
Live Puppet Show concert, 2015
The entire studio worked together for almost a year to write an original script, create their own sets, and pick their favorite music to accompany the scenes. Every student performed at least one puppet character, one puppet voice, AND one piece of live background music! Spoiler alert: the pig can talk.
The entire studio worked together for almost a year to write an original script, create their own sets, and pick their favorite music to accompany the scenes. Every student performed at least one puppet character, one puppet voice, AND one piece of live background music! Spoiler alert: the pig can talk.
Mozart's Letters, 2014
In celebration of the music of the Classical time period, students told the audience colorful stories of European life in the 1700s and read aloud entertaining letters penned by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his family and friends.
In celebration of the music of the Classical time period, students told the audience colorful stories of European life in the 1700s and read aloud entertaining letters penned by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his family and friends.
Annual Halloween Costume Concert, 2014
This is one of our favorite piano studio traditions! Students introduce themselves as what/who they are dressed as and get up to all sorts of entertaining shenanigans. It's a fabulous way to show off our favorite pieces and share our talents with the local community.
This is one of our favorite piano studio traditions! Students introduce themselves as what/who they are dressed as and get up to all sorts of entertaining shenanigans. It's a fabulous way to show off our favorite pieces and share our talents with the local community.
Summer concert at Michelle's Pianos, 2014
A beautiful afternoon of eclectic piano music. And cookies, of course.
A beautiful afternoon of eclectic piano music. And cookies, of course.
"Deca-PDX" 2013: a piano monster concert celebrating 10 incredible years of teaching in Portland.
Each student shared their favorite piano studio memory with the audience, and Milo the Cat helped decorate (read: sat on) the anniversary cake.
Each student shared their favorite piano studio memory with the audience, and Milo the Cat helped decorate (read: sat on) the anniversary cake.
Annual Halloween Costume Concert, 2013
at The Courtyard at Mount Tabor Senior Living Community, our regular "haunt"!
at The Courtyard at Mount Tabor Senior Living Community, our regular "haunt"!
"ART:MUSIC" 20th-century concert & student sound sculpture exhibition 2013
Students explained and performed some of the more wild and experimental trends in 20th-century music, with their non-traditional scores projected on the wall for all to see. The warehouse space at PLACE Studio became a gallery of 30 sound sculptures created by the students from parts of an old piano that we demolished. Pictures coming soon!
Students explained and performed some of the more wild and experimental trends in 20th-century music, with their non-traditional scores projected on the wall for all to see. The warehouse space at PLACE Studio became a gallery of 30 sound sculptures created by the students from parts of an old piano that we demolished. Pictures coming soon!
The Creation of "The Queen of the Night" 2012-2013
The making of a decorated piano from start to finish!
The making of a decorated piano from start to finish!
Valentine's Day Piano Decoration/Donation Project 2013
The culmination of a massive project in which we decorated every last inch of an upright piano - dubbed "The Queen of the Night" - and donated it to The Blazers Boys and Girls Club in Portland, Oregon!
In honor of Valentine's Day, students wrote rhyming speeches that sounded like Valentine's card poems.
The culmination of a massive project in which we decorated every last inch of an upright piano - dubbed "The Queen of the Night" - and donated it to The Blazers Boys and Girls Club in Portland, Oregon!
In honor of Valentine's Day, students wrote rhyming speeches that sounded like Valentine's card poems.
Annual Halloween Costume concert, 2012
It's no wonder that the residents of The Courtyard at Mount Tabor Senior Living Community always look forward to seeing us and we love playing for them!
It's no wonder that the residents of The Courtyard at Mount Tabor Senior Living Community always look forward to seeing us and we love playing for them!
Baroque Harpsichord Costume Concert, 2012
Set in the gorgeous Leach Botanical Garden, we transported the audience back to the 1700s for an unforgettable concert of Baroque harpsichord works performed on my Neupert Telemann model harpsichord.
Each student, costumed in glorious Baroque finery and powdered wigs, impersonated members of the different classes of Western European society who would have had access to harpsichords: musicians, the bourgeoisie, aristocrats, and royalty - with hilarious results!
Set in the gorgeous Leach Botanical Garden, we transported the audience back to the 1700s for an unforgettable concert of Baroque harpsichord works performed on my Neupert Telemann model harpsichord.
Each student, costumed in glorious Baroque finery and powdered wigs, impersonated members of the different classes of Western European society who would have had access to harpsichords: musicians, the bourgeoisie, aristocrats, and royalty - with hilarious results!
Cinco de Mayo Piano Social, 2012
Great music and holiday food, lots of laughs, and sombrero silliness!
Great music and holiday food, lots of laughs, and sombrero silliness!
Holiday Carol Sing Concerts, 2011
These holiday concerts were topped off with round-robin non-stop carol sings!
These holiday concerts were topped off with round-robin non-stop carol sings!
Singer-Pianist Cabaret Extravaganza,s 2011
Students created their own original arrangements of their favorite songs and performed these cover versions lounge-style, singing at the piano with a mic. These programs were a wildly entertaining mash-up of everything from Billy Joel, folk songs and Spanish pop ballads to Monty Python skits with props!
Students created their own original arrangements of their favorite songs and performed these cover versions lounge-style, singing at the piano with a mic. These programs were a wildly entertaining mash-up of everything from Billy Joel, folk songs and Spanish pop ballads to Monty Python skits with props!
April Fools Piano Social, 2011
Students wore wacky hats and surprised everybody with April Fool's jokes in their speeches and songs!
Students wore wacky hats and surprised everybody with April Fool's jokes in their speeches and songs!
Candlelight Benefit Concerts for Heifer International, 2010
In the darkened concert hall, students held their handmade glowing, decorated luminary bags and gave speeches about the things that they were thankful for before sharing music at these concerts raising funds for Heifer International. Our studio raised enough funds to donate a llama, honeybees, ducks, chicks and several other animals to families in need around the world!
In the darkened concert hall, students held their handmade glowing, decorated luminary bags and gave speeches about the things that they were thankful for before sharing music at these concerts raising funds for Heifer International. Our studio raised enough funds to donate a llama, honeybees, ducks, chicks and several other animals to families in need around the world!
Annual Halloween Costume Concert, 2010
At it again at The Courtyard at Mount Tabor!
At it again at The Courtyard at Mount Tabor!
Silent Film Concerts, 2010
Two live screenings of Charlie Chaplin's classic film "The Circus" with students providing non-stop live piano accompaniment on two grand pianos! A truly epic feat and a huge and rare treat for the audience!
Two live screenings of Charlie Chaplin's classic film "The Circus" with students providing non-stop live piano accompaniment on two grand pianos! A truly epic feat and a huge and rare treat for the audience!
Jazz Cafe Concert at RimskyKorsakoffeeHouse, 2010
A jazz feast with a side of improvisation, sizzling with individual stylings and finished with musical humor and a big dose of personality - all in one one of the wackiest musical establishments in town!
A jazz feast with a side of improvisation, sizzling with individual stylings and finished with musical humor and a big dose of personality - all in one one of the wackiest musical establishments in town!
Holiday Mega-concert & Musical Gingerbread Contest! 2009
Students created the most amazing musical art interpretations of gingerbread to celebrate the season!
Students created the most amazing musical art interpretations of gingerbread to celebrate the season!
The Golden Age of the Piano, 2009
These recitals gave us a firsthand chance to explore and present the common practices of 19th-century musicians and audiences. Students impersonated famous composer-pianists of the Romantic Era (which, due to the small number of professional female musicians active in that time period, required quite a few of the gals to be in drag - with fake beards, pillows stuffed under their waistcoats, and so forth).
Aesthetic archrivals Liszt and Brahms glowered at each other; Paderewski displayed his famous mane of hair; and Chopin coughed blood into a handkerchief. The audience threw flowers and shouted "encore!" - and the students obliged!
These recitals gave us a firsthand chance to explore and present the common practices of 19th-century musicians and audiences. Students impersonated famous composer-pianists of the Romantic Era (which, due to the small number of professional female musicians active in that time period, required quite a few of the gals to be in drag - with fake beards, pillows stuffed under their waistcoats, and so forth).
Aesthetic archrivals Liszt and Brahms glowered at each other; Paderewski displayed his famous mane of hair; and Chopin coughed blood into a handkerchief. The audience threw flowers and shouted "encore!" - and the students obliged!
Winter Blizzard Recitals, 2008
Our students showed their dedication when a rare and heavy Portland snowstorm hit the evening before our concert day - many put on their boots over their concert outfits and trudged across the river and down from the West Hills on foot to the concert hall when cars and buses ceased to run through the impassably drifted streets. And the fearless Brenda Kell put on her snowsuit and braved the elements to open up the Sherman Clay Pianos building for us! The atmosphere we brought with us in our snow-muffled hall was truly special.
Our students showed their dedication when a rare and heavy Portland snowstorm hit the evening before our concert day - many put on their boots over their concert outfits and trudged across the river and down from the West Hills on foot to the concert hall when cars and buses ceased to run through the impassably drifted streets. And the fearless Brenda Kell put on her snowsuit and braved the elements to open up the Sherman Clay Pianos building for us! The atmosphere we brought with us in our snow-muffled hall was truly special.
New Works Concerts, 2007
Two incredible concerts comprised entirely of students' own original compositions!
Two incredible concerts comprised entirely of students' own original compositions!
Annual Halloween Costume Concerts, 2007
Entertaining to the max at the Laurelhurst Village Care Center!
Entertaining to the max at the Laurelhurst Village Care Center!
Annual Halloween Costume Concerts, 2005 & 2006
Pulling out all the stops at the Laurelhurst Village Care Center
Pulling out all the stops at the Laurelhurst Village Care Center
Countries of the World Masquerade Concerts, 2005
At this gorgeous costume extravaganza, students dressed in the national finery of their chosen country, told stories and performed music from every corner of the globe!
At this gorgeous costume extravaganza, students dressed in the national finery of their chosen country, told stories and performed music from every corner of the globe!
A slideshow of 16 Adult Student Soiree performances over the years!
These adult student concerts happen in a fun variety of casual places - homes, cafes, gardens, recital halls, you name it! We call them "soirees" since they are small, cozy, wine-and-cheeses affairs. Once in a while younger students will join as special guests, especially when they collaborate with adult student friends and family members. Soirees are wonderful, encouraging events where we can share our growth and the projects that we're excited about with other music lovers.
These adult student concerts happen in a fun variety of casual places - homes, cafes, gardens, recital halls, you name it! We call them "soirees" since they are small, cozy, wine-and-cheeses affairs. Once in a while younger students will join as special guests, especially when they collaborate with adult student friends and family members. Soirees are wonderful, encouraging events where we can share our growth and the projects that we're excited about with other music lovers.
A slideshow of beautiful summer concerts reaching all the way back to 2004!
These are fun times of year when we share the things we love - a program might include music by Bach and Gershwin to Lady Gaga and Studio Ghibli, with original compositions and a few sing-alongs thrown into the mix!
These are fun times of year when we share the things we love - a program might include music by Bach and Gershwin to Lady Gaga and Studio Ghibli, with original compositions and a few sing-alongs thrown into the mix!
A slideshow of gorgeous winter concerts going back to 2004.
Our winter concerts tend to be formal events, many of them united by a theme that allows us to explore musical concepts, performance practice and socio-historical context deeply in lessons and group classes, then communicate our learning to an appreciative audience. And afterwards, as always, we have cookies!
Our winter concerts tend to be formal events, many of them united by a theme that allows us to explore musical concepts, performance practice and socio-historical context deeply in lessons and group classes, then communicate our learning to an appreciative audience. And afterwards, as always, we have cookies!