Our Director

Jennifer Perkne spent her childhood in Manhattan, IL. She attended all three schools in the Manhattan school district: Wilson Creek, Anna McDonald, and MJHS, where she had former MJHS orchestra and choir director, Joyce Pacheco. 

It was under Joyce Pacheco's guidance that Jennifer gathered her love for music.  She began taking piano lessons in kindergarten, violin in the third grade, guitar in the fourth grade, and sang in every choir she could.  

After her time in the Manhattan school district, Jennifer attended high school at both Lincoln-Way Central and West High School, where she pursued her passions for both orchestra and choir.  In high school, Jennifer was concertmaster of both the Lincoln-Way Central and West orchestras, sang in the top choirs for both Central and West, and excelled in many extracurricular ensembles such as madrigals, vocal jazz, spring musical, and jazz band.  

Jennifer then chose to attend Valparaiso University, where she graduated summa cum laude and a Christ College Honors Scholar with a bachelor's degree in music education.  In her time at VU, Jennifer was actively involved in both music and worship life.  She participated in the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra, Chorale, and coordinated music for every worship service at VU.  

Jennifer is ecstatic to bring her story "full circle" and start the next chapter of her life directing the same orchestra and choir that gave her a lifelong passion for music!