A native Oregonian, Jenna McBride-Harris enjoys a varied freelance career as a performer and educator. After earning her Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College, (Um Ya Ya!) McBride-Harris moved to Ohio where she earned her masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The Ohio State University respectively. In Ohio, she was a founding member in several active chamber ensembles, including a horn and harp duo. She held positions as second horn in the Canton and Kentucky Symphony Orchestras and performed regularly with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra among others. Since relocating to the cities, Jenna has a busy performance calendar as second horn with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, as well as regular performances with the Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

An engaging and invested educator, McBride-Harris is Visiting Assistant Professor of Horn at St. Olaf College where she teaches applied horn lessons and coaches brass chamber ensembles. The St. Olaf Horn Studio is a thriving community of committed hornists (usually 14—21 students) with degree paths ranging from quantum economics to Spanish to Music Education and Performance. The summers will find Dr. McBride-Harris (or Dr. McB to her students,) alternately working in her garden, teaching horn at the St. Olaf Music Academy, and teaching and performing at the Crescendo Summer Institute in Tokaj, Hungary.

Some of Dr. McB’s favorite memories from St. Olaf include performing in Christmas Fest, late-night practice sessions in CHM and two international tours: one to Mexico with the St. Olaf Band and another to Norway as a member of both the St. Olaf Band and the St. Olaf Orchestra. If you’re interested in being a part of the St. Olaf Horn Studio, please feel free to reach out via email, and you are encouraged to follow the studio on Instagram @stolafhorns or on Facebook @The St. Olaf Horn Studio.