Jean Denney serves as Personnel Manager for the Fort Collins Symphony where she has played violin over 30 years, and enjoys the diverse aspects of being an orchestral musician, freelance violinist, studio teacher, instrumental contractor, and newly published method book author.
Since winning her first professional audition in 1984, Jean Denney has continually performed in orchestras and other musical organizations in Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado. These have included Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Boulder Dinner Theatre, Cheyenne Symphony, Canyon Concert Ballet, Colorado Dance Theatre, Opera Fort Collins, Greeley Chorale, Larimer Chorale, and many others. She gained some understanding of the music publishing business during her 16 year tenure as Greeley Philharmonic’s Orchestra Librarian when she also did some editing and freelance librarian work for other orchestras.
Although Jean Denney has pioneered, directed, and taught music curricula for public school districts in Colorado, Texas, and Indiana, was a charter member of the Indianapolis Symphony's Educator's Advisory Committee, Executive Director of the String Quartet Program of Northern Colorado, and Administrator of Rocky Ridge Music Center, her true passion in education lies with adults. Recognizing a severe need for materials appropriate to adult students of violin, she authored the book Mastering the Violin: A Comprehensive Study for the Adult Learner, published by Mel Bay in 2022. It presents an innovative and bold approach which differs from traditional methods in an effort to meet the physical and mental needs of adult beginners.
Jean Denney studied with Will Schwartz while earning her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Performance at Colorado State University.
At home in the Rocky Mountains, Jean and her husband, choral conductor Alan Denney, live in Estes Park, Colorado, where they raised their three daughters.