Jenna Clark ’13

Music Worship Arts

Biography

I am a mezzo-soprano and choral conductor currently based in Denver, CO. I graduated from Taylor in 2013 with a BS in Church Music Ministries and my path has had many twists and turns since graduating! Rather than apply for worship leader or music director positions like I had originally planned, I decided I didn't know enough about the real, raw, and often messy world I was hoping to minister to, so I decided to take a year off and narrow in on what my next steps should be. I decided to apply for graduate school both because of the aforementioned realization and also because I couldn't stand the thought of not learning all I could about the beautiful classical voice art form I had taken for granted in undergrad. I attended the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver to pursue my MM in Vocal Performance in 2014, serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in voice. After a year of study, I was encouraged to add a second concentration in Choral Conducting and after 4 years of graduate study I earned my dual concentration MM in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting in 2018. I was fortunate to be able to sing principal roles in several operas, including a few on tour, and compete in the semi-final round of SWACDA's student conducting competition. Although there were many highlights and accomplishments, these were personally some of the most challenging years of my life, so I decided to take 6 months off from singing entirely and try to put my life back together (just being honest here). I got a safe job at Fathom Events selling group tickets to the Met Live in HD series and after a few months started to pick up some steam, booking gigs around Denver and performing in my first professional production, singing Suzuki in a futuristic adaptation of Puccini's Madama Butterfly alongside an international cast. This experience cemented for me the desire to pursue performance full time, so putting my first large paycheck from a professional company into savings, I quit my job and pursued singing and teaching full time. As scary as that was, God provided for me as I was asked to interview for two private teaching jobs in Denver, both which I started in January 2020. Along with applying for Young Artist Programs, I was booking more gigs around Denver before COVID-19 took all of that away. Fortunately, I kept gaining students and currently teach a private studio of 14 which is sustaining me through the pandemic. In this tumultuous time, I made the decision to pursue my DMA in Vocal Performance to further my training and be able to find my unique gifts and continue to unravel God's plan for me in this world. In my experience, pursuing a career in music is very challenging and courageous; it builds character and creativity; and it allows for some of the most rewarding experiences followed by some of the most disappointing. It is not for all, but for me it is 100% worth it.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

When I look back at my most valuable experiences at Taylor, I think first about my experience in the Taylor Chorale. That was the place I learned what I was made of, being challenged to learn music faster, sing at a higher level, dig deeper inside myself, and be a leader. Every role I was asked to fill I felt unworthy of, but had to find the guts to believe in myself and sacrifice comfort for leadership. I served as chaplain, officer and assistant director of the Chorale and I take that experience of leadership with me into everything I do now. I also valued relationships with my floor and roommates, getting involved in Nostalgia Night, Taylathon, and all the community building events in the dorm. I think of being in a chapel band, what an honor that was being able to collaborate in a different setting and lead the student body in worship. Lastly, perhaps one of the most important experiences was going to counseling on a regular basis. I learned a lot about myself—how my past affects my present, how to set healthy boundaries, and what my pitfalls are. These skills I also take with me into everything I do.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

I love Taylor professors—particularly music professors. They are some of the people I miss most about that school. Dr. JoAnn Rediger had a huge influence on my view of myself in leadership and how far I could push myself, Dr. Robertson empathized with my experience of depression and helped me feel perfectly human in my struggle, Dr. Harshenin was always so caring and encouraging, and all taught me so much about discipline in music. I also value so many professors outside the music building, but the ones inside are true gems.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Keep a strong back and a soft front, continue to know yourself, use critical thinking and an open mind to pursue truth, lean into challenges and be honest with yourself while keeping your heart open to love, pray often, and embrace the beautiful wild of God's creation!

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

#1. Practice—there are so many awesome things to do around campus but these years of practicing your discipline you can never get back. I can't stress this enough. It's also how you might find your unique gifts and passions and how you might get to know yourself better. 
#2. Don't run from discomfort. Try things that seem a little scary, get outside your comfort zone and you might be surprised what you're capable of. 
#3. Be a part of the team. Individualizing yourself in competition with everyone else will leave you feeling burnt out and empty. Lean on each other and be each other's advocate because in the real world, musicians need each other to survive. 
#4. A music department cannot provide you with 100% everything you need to succeed—find your pitfalls or the things that need the most work and supplement them in other ways. Be in charge of your own learning and career. 
#5. Learn to develop healthy boundaries and habits, get to know yourself, forgive yourself, find help if you need it, ask questions, be honest. You will never be able to serve to your greatest capacity if you cannot take care of yourself. 
#6. Know you have advocates rooting for you in the way of Taylor alumni! Take advantage of asking questions and building connections.