Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen has been named Dean of the Manhattan School of Music’s Jazz Arts division. She had been serving as Interim Dean since June 2020, following the departure of vibraphonist Stefon Harris, who was Associate Dean and Director of Jazz Arts.
“Ingrid’s superb and present leadership as Interim Dean of MSM’s jazz division over the past two years,” said MSM President James Gandre, in a news release, “galvanized faculty and students and fostered an environment characterized by generosity of spirit and artistic excellence.”
A member of the MSM Jazz Arts faculty since 2018, Jensen said she is “absolutely thrilled to be taking on this new role at MSM. I look forward to welcoming the incoming class later this summer.”
Jensen was the subject of Jersey Jazz’s “Talking Jazz” feature in the May/June 2020 issue of the magazine. In that article, she recalled working with the late pianist, Geri Allen, at Allen’s camp for girls at Rutgers Newark. That experience, she told Jersey Jazz’s Schaen Fox, “changed my life more than anything that’s happened in a long time. Getting these young girls going and watching the community support in that week-long camp of people reminded me of myself when I was that young; but I was without the vast building full of mentors encouraging them to go for it.” Jensen is also a charter member of Renee Rosnes’ band, Artemis, which will be performing on September 10 at the Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree Grand Finale.
PHOTO BY MARIANA MERAZ