Dressed up like a boy. Again. Anyhow, my name is Jenny and I am nineteen years old. I attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, majoring in music composition and hopefully theatre as well. My goal is to eventually write musical theatre and opera. French horn is my primary instrument, but I also sing, play trumpet, piano and flute. You can click here if you would like to know more about the brass insturments I play. My singing is what I am most proud of, however. Last year, I sang at the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City with my jazz ensemble. One can watch a short clip of that performance here. The jazz ensemble is excellent; we are currently ranked second in the entire country, due to our performance at this year's festival. I was fortunate enough to meet most of the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, and play on stage with Wynton Marsalis. I'm in the upper right hand corner playing the trumpet. Jazz is a big part of my life.
I first discovered Les Miserables last September. My friend Laurie was in a production of it, and she wanted me to come see her. At first, I told her no, but eventually she coerced me into attending. From the first note, I was completely enraptured. It was performed excellently. I particularly loved the boy who was playing Jean Valjean. The end of the show was when it really hit me, though. I had never seen it before, and therefore I was horrified and heartbroken when Jean Valjean dies at the end. I sobbed for twenty minutes after the show was over. The next day, I went out and I bought the original London cast recording. I was hooked. Since then, I've seen it twice more and read the book-unabridged. I must say right here that, even though I love the musical, I prefer the book. The music and the lyrics are genius in my opinion, but nonetheless, the details that the text offers enhance the plot to perfections. The plight of Jean Valjean touches me the most. In the face of extreme adversity, he always retains his honesty and compassion and treats others with love. His loving and strong character inspires me to become a better person than I am. For this reason, I wear a 24601 ID bracelet on my right wrist to always remind me what I should strive for in every day life; to meet cruelty with kindess, problems with patience, and to find the good in everyone.
Amy My Jeffrey (my own personal barricade boy!), Tina, Effie, Kathy, Amanda, Krissy, the boy who played Valjean in the Norwood production (he started it all, whether he knows it or not!), the boy who played Javert in the Milford production, Percy Grainger, Michael Ball and of course, Colm Wilkinson
