Kristen earned her B.A. in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying with Les Thimmig and Richard Davis. While in Madison, Kristen organized her own jazz quartet, in addition to working with various big bands, dance bands, jazz combos, and cover bands. Kristen has provided music for private events (including the Chazen Art Museum and many weddings/country clubs), and she has also performed for festivals and fairs throughout the Midwest & California (such as The World’s Largest BratFest and San Diego’s Little Italy Festival). She has recorded for Madison’s 89.9 WORT radio station as well as America’s Community Network in California. Kristen has also worked as a woodwind specialist for both musical theater productions and church services.
Wisconsin Musical Collaborators: Green Means Go, Charlie Painter and Friends, Ben Ferris Quintet, Five Points Jazz Collective, Bill Sargent Big Band, Gary Kuchenbecker’s Old Lager Orchestra.
California Musical Collaborators: Empire Swing, Patrizia the Sultry Lady of Jazz, Persuasion, Schrödinger’s Jazz Cats, Danny King, and Gail Jhonson of Jazz in Pink.
