Jenny is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and educator whose practice is rooted in performance, collaboration, and musical exploration. Performing publicly since the age of three, her work reflects a lifelong engagement with music across a wide range of styles and contexts.
She trained as a classical saxophonist with Gerard McChrystal, while also developing a strong grounding in jazz through study with Martin Speake and vocalist Jacqui Dankworth. This combination of classical rigour and improvisatory practice continues to inform a flexible and responsive approach to performance.
A graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, she maintains a diverse instrumental practice, performing across saxophones, piano, clarinet, tuned percussion, handbells and voice. Her work often involves moving fluidly between instruments, adapting to varied performance settings and collaborative environments.
From 2004 onwards, she has performed as part of the FB Pocket Orchestra, undertaking, at times, an intensive schedule of up to 250 performances per year. This sustained period of high-frequency performance formed a significant part of her artistic development, cultivating resilience, versatility, and a strong connection with audiences in a wide range of settings.
Her early musical development included success at festivals such as the Beckenham Festival and through participation in Music for Youth, alongside the award of a bursary in her first year of senior school to study advanced music theory alongside A-level students at a local college.
Supporting Practice
Since 2020, Jennifer Russell has gained substantial experience in production, event delivery, and creative project management, extending her artistic practice beyond performance into the practical realisation of large-scale cultural work.
She holds a PGCE, though her work in this area is primarily centred on facilitation and collaborative music-making rather than formal classroom teaching.
She has developed significant expertise in large-scale event coordination and delivery, including leading projects through local authority Safety Advisory Group (SAG) processes for events of up to 5,000 attendees. She holds a NEBOSH Health and Safety qualification, underpinning a professional approach to risk management, compliance, and the operational demands of live events.
From 2023, she has managed social media and digital presence for a small stately home and estate in Hampshire, developing audience engagement through creative content and strategic communication. As part of this work, she conceived and established a local festival, contributing to the site’s cultural programme and strengthening its connection with local audiences.
Since 2006, her work with FB Music and Media Ltd has allowed her to combine artistic direction with logistical oversight. This strand of her work reflects an ongoing interest in how music is produced, situated, and experienced, from concept through to live delivery.
