Jill Jantzen, Piano

Pianist Jill Jantzen has been recognized for her “virtuoso performance..., professionalism and training.” As a touring artist, she has performed across the United States and in Europe. Recent highlights include performing on the Guest Artist Concert Series at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music; collaborating on projects with the Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; and performing live on Cincinnati Public Radio 90.9 WGUC. In addition to her performances, Jantzen lives a robust musical life as an arts administrator and educator.
For the last five years, she served as the artistic director of Salon 21: Petite Piano Concerts, a series dedicated to making piano music accessible to all by breaking down the barriers between performer and audience. Though Salon 21 highlighted classical piano music, Jantzen curated programs that featured art song concerts to cabaret shows, and jazz improvisation to cross-over hip-hop concerts. Most notably, Jantzen headed the organization’s largest commissioning project, Parallels. Funded in part by the Catalyzing Impact Grant from ArtsWave, this project brought forth five new works for piano quintet, written by female composers from both the United States and Poland. Jantzen gave the first performance of its double-world-premiere in Cincinnati, OH. The same program was later performed in Warsaw, Poland. Jantzen’s work with Salon 21 has shaped her artistic philosophy, prioritizing ingenuity, creativity, and the ability to connect with listeners beyond just the music.
As both an artist and educator, Jantzen strives to make classical music a community experience for all to enjoy. She currently serves as Adjunct Piano Professor at Thomas More University in Kentucky, where she heads the Piano Department, creating curriculum for the current Music Minor track with future plans to add a Music Major. Jantzen also works with students of all ages through her private piano studio.
As a proud native of Oklahoma, Jantzen holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oklahoma City University, Bass School of Music where she studied with both Dr. Amy I-Lin Cheng and Dr. Sergio Monteiro. She then relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she completed her Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Mr. Awadagin Pratt. During her time at CCM, Jantzen held a full-tuition Graduate Assistantship in Secondary Piano with Dr. Michelle Conda, and upon completion in 2013, Jantzen was awarded CCM’s Outstanding Graduate Assistant.