ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dr. Jenna Sehmann is the Assistant Professor of Oboe and Music History at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Jenna previously served as Instructor of Double Reeds and Music History at Southeast Missouri State University, oboe faculty at Cornell College (Mount Vernon, IA) and applied oboe lessons at Mount Mercy University (Cedar Rapids, IA). Dr. Sehmann holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, Master of Music degree in oboe performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in both music performance and music industry from Eastern Kentucky University. Major influences on Dr. Sehmann's career include Dr. Courtney Miller, Dr. Mark Ostoich, and Dr. Julie Smith.
Professionally, Dr. Sehmann has performed with the Quad Cities Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Dubuque Symphony, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Ottumwa Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Evansville Philharmonic, and the Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas. Jenna has also performed in orchestral and chamber music settings at the Bay View Music Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Marrowstone Music Festival, Trentino Music Festival, Sault Ste. Marie Opera Orchestra, and Taneycomo Festival Orchestra.
Dr. Sehmann is an accomplished soloist and has won several competitions and awards. Most notably, she was the Kentucky chapter winner of the 2018 National Society of Arts and Letters Woodwinds competition, competing nationally in Chautauqua, NY in May 2018. She was also the second-place winner of the Mary Ann Starring Memorial Award in Woodwinds/Brass as part of the 2018 Sigma Alpha Iota Triennial Graduate Performance Awards. Other accomplishments include the 2017 MTNA Woodwinds Young Artist Competition (Kentucky division winner), and the 2016 recipient of the NAfME Carolyn Nelson Double Reed Award.
Dr. Sehmann also teaches music history, having completed her secondary area studies in musicology during her doctoral degree. Her research focuses on literary connections and narrative in instrumental music. This research can be found in her Doctoral capstone project, which features recordings of works for oboe inspired by literature. This project highlights two of Jenna’s greatest interests: oboe performance and theatrical literature and performance. Dr. Sehmann was named the sole recipient of the 2020 Sigma Alpha Iota Doctoral Grant in order to further her studies on this subject.
In addition to performing and teaching, she enjoys cooking, watching documentaries, and spending time with her retired racing greyhound, Peggy Sue.