PVYO is excited to welcome Jennifer Van Petten to its artistic staff as a sectional coach. Ms. Van Petten brings a tremendous amount of experience and expertise to PVYO.  She has established herself as one of the premier music educators and conductors in the region, and is well known for her charisma, enthusiasm, energy, and attention to musical detail. Ms. Van Petten recently took leave to raise her three young children after an amazing 11 year tenure as the Instrumental Music Director at Rosa Parks Middle School, but has continued inspiring our region’s young musicians as their conductor for the Montgomery County Junior Honors Orchestra.

Previously, Mrs. Van Petten served as conductor for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Strings and Young Artists Orchestra, where she was teamed with PVYO’s recent staff additions, David Levin and Scott Herman.

Mrs. Van Petten was a finalist in the 2010-2011 Gazette’s “My Favorite Teacher” award. In 2005, Mrs. Van Petten was the recipient of the Nancy Dworkin Award for “Outstanding Service to Youth” as well as a finalist for the “Agnes Meyer Teaching Award.”

Mrs. Van Petten is an active member of the Maryland Music Educators Association where she served as Member-at-Large in the Maryland Orchestra Directors Association, as well as an adjudicator for the District and State honors ensembles. She frequently adjudicates regional band and orchestra festivals in Maryland. She maintains a private studio in Olney, where she resides with her family.