Congratulations to EMTA member, Dr. Jensina Oliver who received the EMTA 2024-2025 Member of The Year Award at the June 2025 General Meeting.

Comment from members on why Jensina should receive this award included:

“Jensina has not only presented at a general meeting this year but has also stepped in and gathered a panel presentation when the original presenter could not attend. She has worked tirelessly for EMTA to develop the revised version of the Excellence in Music Award, to help secure adjudicators for events, etc. I am so grateful that she is a part of our community.”

“Jensina has long been a friendly and highly valued member of our EMTA community. She has recently been helping organize our large Music Artistry Program, stepped into organize a panel presentation of expert teachers for our EMTA general meeting, worked hard to revamp our Excellence in Music Award program, all while teaching at Shoreline Community College, adjudicating various music events, and presenting at the MTNA National Association convention.”

About Dr. Jensina Oliver

Known for her expressive and passionate performances, pianist Jensina Oliver has appeared as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. Her performances with orchestra include appearances with the Hubei Provincial Orchestra of Wuhan, China, as well the Utah Philharmonia, Orchestra of Southern Utah, Intermountain Chamber Orchestra, University of Washington Symphony, and University of Utah Symphony Orchestra. She was a national finalist of the MTNA Chamber Competition, a resident artist at the Banff Chamber Music Festival, and has won several solo and concerto competitions throughout the United States. As a member of Duo Cascadia, Dr. Oliver performs with Dr. Kay Zavislak, exploring a diverse piano ensemble repertoire and concertizing throughout the Pacific Northwest region.

Ms. Oliver has been praised by critics as “highly talented,” with a “steely-fingered” technique and a flair for “panache and drama.” (SL Trib.) “Byington’s command of dynamic phrasing infused each note with elegant intensity in slower passages; in virtuosic sections, she played with assuredness and authority.” Ms. Oliver’s first CD, JENSINA OLIVER performs Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff is available on CDBaby.com.

Ms. Oliver earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Piano Performance at the University of Washington under the guidance of Mr. Craig Sheppard and has taught music courses at Shoreline Community College since 1998. As a National Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), she has a thriving studio with students of all ages. Dr. Oliver travels and teaches around the Pacific Northwest, providing meaningful artistic instruction to students and teachers alike. She currently resides with her family in Seattle, where she is a well-known performer, instructor, clinician, and adjudicator.