Jenna Kavouras is a Music major and Management minor from Prior Lake, Minnesota. She performed with the Gustavus Wind Orchestra and the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble. Professor James Patrick Miller says “Jenna is a truly excellent student and person, asks great questions, and seeks-out unique opportunities for herself. She will go far in the field of music, and the independent study we are doing on video game music composition and technology is one of the most engaging and interesting independent studies I have ever done. I could not be prouder of Jenna.”
We asked Jenna about her time at Gustavus and her goals for the future.
What are your plans for the future?
JK: “Currently, I plan on taking a year off before likely applying for grad school to study film and video game music composition.”
What will you miss most about music at Gustavus?
JK: “I will miss being with all of the friends I have made over the years. Whether we are making music or simply being together, it is the community that has had such a huge impact on me, especially over tours.”
What’s a favorite memory you have from studying music at Gustavus?
JK: “I really enjoyed playing with the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra in Singapore and Malaysia in 2020. It was a really cool experience to be able to share our music halfway across the globe and to see the impact we made on other people.”
How have you grown in your time at Gustavus?
J: “I have learned a lot more about myself, what motivates me (and what doesn’t), and what I am passionate about. Gustavus is a place where I have been allowed the room to explore what sparkles my curiosity.”
What do you look forward to most about life after Gustavus?
JK: “I look forward to spending some time with family and my critters on the farm, for one. I am also excited about jumping into the world of music and taking my education a step further and taking my education a step further and potentially writing scores for video games and film in the future.”
What’s one piece of advice you’d give high school students considering Gustavus?
JK: “Take the chance! Sign up for an audition or a try-out or schedule a tour. The worst that can happen is that you discover it’s not quite the right place for you, but honestly, it probably is!”
What has been your proudest moment in your time at Gustavus?
JK: “I would say it has to be the completion of my orchestration composition. It was a piece I worked really hard on for several months and I was extremely pleased with the end product.”
What is the most interesting class you’ve taken at Gustavus and why?
JK: “Form and Analysis with Dr. Bryant takes the cake. It was really interesting to analyze music from all eras, discussing and debating the confines of western music as a whole and how we can create art out of those boxes. In addition, we explored many works of under-represented composers.”
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