Jenny Choi is a passionate music professional with 25+ years of experience. She enjoys working with a wide range of musicians, from young beginners to advanced music professionals.

Jenny was born and raised in South Korea in a catholic family. She graduated from Kongju National University with Bachalor's degree in Music Education. She served as a middle school music teacher at Wonsam Middle School in Yong-in. In 1992 she got married and moved to the USA with her husband, Wanjoo. Jenny continued her study and received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Moores School of Music, University of Houston.

During her musical career in the USA, she worked as a piano teacher as her day job, volunteered as a church musician/choir conductor every weekend, and served as an accompanist to many musicians.

In January 2021, Jenny and her husband moved to Stavanger, Norway, primarily due to her husband's relocation to Norway by his company. They live in Hommersåk, a small town near Stavanger, enjoying hiking and fishing in their free time. Jenny and Wanjoo are members of the Riska church choir in Hommersåk.

Currently, Jenny works as the church musician at Høle church since August 2022.

Education

Master of Music, Piano Performance, Moores School of Music, University of Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Bachalor of Art, Music Education, Kongju National University, Kongju, Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Certification

Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), 2019, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), U.S.A.

Kindermusik Instructor, 2003, Kindermusik, U.S.A.

Middle School Teacher, 1991, Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea

Work Experience

Church musician (kyrkjemusikar), 2022 to present, Høle church, Sandnes Municipality, Rogaland, Norway

Independent Piano Teacher, 2000 to present, Texas, U.S.A (Austin & Houston)

Piano Ensemble Director, 2011 to 2021, Performed at Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) Convention, U.S.A

President, Cypress Creek Music Teacher Association (CCMTA), 2015, Houston, TX, U.S.A

Student Affiliate Chair, Cypress Creek Music Teacher Association (CCMTA), 2014, Houston, TX, U.S.A

Recording Secretary, Cypress Creek Music Teacher Association (CCMTA), 2010 to 2012, Houston, TX, U.S.A

Music Director, St. Andrew Kim Church of Houston, 2004 to 2016, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

Music Director, St. Andrew Kim Church of Austin, 1994 to 2004, Austin, TX, U.S.A.

Expertise

Teaching piano music at all levels from preschoolers to adults

Teaching online music lessons through Skype, Zoom, MS Teams, etc.

Accompanying other instruments

Performing collaborative music

Planning and organizing piano recitals and other musical events

Teaching music lessons in English (fluent), Korean (mother tunge), and Norwegian Bokmål (Basic)

Student Achievement Highlights

Andrew Van, 1st Place (6th grade) in Ella Louise Burba Piano Contest, 2018, Austin District Music Teachers Association

Charley Van, 2nd Place (1st grade) in Ella Louise Burba Piano Contest, 2018, Austin District Music Teachers Association

Elliott Lee, 1st Place (11th grade) in John Hendrickson Piano Contest, 2014, Cypress Creek Music Teachers Association

Kara Lee, 1st Place (8th grade) in John Hendrickson Piano Contest, 2013, Cypress Creek Music Teachers Association

Paul Choi, 1st Place (10th grade) in John Hendrickson Piano Contest, 2012, Cypress Creek Music Teachers Association

Piano Ensemble Directing Highlights

Polka Party by Catherine Rollin (Intermediate level), Austin MTA, 2021, Online

Le Pas Espagnole from Dolly Suite by Faure (High school level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2016, Dallas, TX

Slavonic Dances for Piano 4 Hands Op. 46, B. 78 by Dvorak (High school level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2015, Houston TX

Summer Samba by Bober (Intermediate level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2014, Houston, TX

Terpsichore by Vandall (Intermediate level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2013, Dallas, TX

The Water Is Wide arr. by Vandall (Intermediate level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2012, Houston, TX

Spanish Tornado by Noona (Intermediate level), Cypress Creek MTA, 2011, Dallas, TX

Recent performances

Jenny Choi Music Studio Winter Concert 2024, December 14th, 2024, Riska Church, Hommersåk, Rogaland, Norway

Jenny Choi Music Studio Summer Concert 2024, June 8th, 2024, Riska Church, Hommersåk, Rogaland, Norway

Jenny Choi, Nocturne Op. 48, No. 1, Chopin, June 8th, 2024, Riska Church, Hommersåk, Rogaland, Norway

Jenny Choi, Venetian Gondola Song, Op. 30, No. 6, Mendelssohn, July 31, 2022, Riska Church, Hommersåk, Rogaland, Norway

Jenny Choi and Solveig M. Johannessen - Lunch concert, July 20, 2022, Riska Church, Hommersåk, Rogaland, Norway