Dylana Jenson facts for kids

Dylana Jenson (born May 14, 1961, in Los Angeles, California) is a talented American concert violinist and violin teacher. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, David Lockington, who is a conductor and cellist. They have four children together. Dylana is also the sister of Vicky Jenson, who is known for her work as an animated film storyboard artist and director.

Early Life and Amazing Talent

Dylana Jenson was a true child musical genius. She started learning the violin with her mother when she was just two years and ten months old! Later, she studied with famous violin teachers like Manuel Compinsky, Nathan Milstein, and Josef Gingold.

First Performances

Dylana played her first big concert at age eight. She performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. When she was nine, she appeared on a TV show with Jack Benny. She even acted out a famous violin duet with Gisele MacKensie. At age eleven, she played the challenging Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

On January 17, 1973, Dylana played a piece called Wieniawski's Polonaise de Concert, Op. 4 on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. By the time she was thirteen, she had performed with many top orchestras in the U.S. This included the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She also traveled to Europe, Latin America, and the Soviet Union to perform. In 1978, at seventeen, she won the silver medal at the important International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Later Career and Famous Violins

Dylana Jenson made her big Carnegie Hall concert debut on December 9, 1980. She played the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Everyone loved her performance!

Recordings and Special Instruments

In 1981, she recorded the Sibelius Violin Concerto. She also recorded Saint-Saëns's Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the Philadelphia Orchestra. A music critic named Edward Downes said her playing was "unsurpassed since Heifetz," comparing her to a legendary violinist.

For a long time, Dylana used a special 1743 Guarneri violin. This violin was on loan to her from a collector. It was the instrument she used for her Sibelius recording. When the loan ended, she needed to find a new violin. This search led to her taking a break from performing for about ten years.

Yo-Yo Ma, a famous cellist, suggested she meet Samuel Zygmuntowicz. He is a modern luthier (someone who makes and repairs string instruments) in Brooklyn. Samuel Zygmuntowicz makes amazing copies of old Stradivarius and Guarneri violins. In 1995, Dylana asked him to make a violin for her. This new violin was used for her Carnegie Hall concert recording and her Shostakovich/Barber CD.

Teaching and Performances

In 2000, Dylana became a music professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She taught there for many years. In 2020-2021, she was a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame.

Dylana often performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Her husband, David Lockington, conducts the orchestra. They even returned to Carnegie Hall together in 2005. Critics praised her performances, with one saying her playing was "a sizzling performance."

She has also played with many other orchestras. These include the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. She has toured in Australia and Japan. At age 12, she was even made an honorary citizen of Costa Rica for her musical contributions! Dylana performs both full concerts and smaller recitals.

Music Albums (Discography)

In 1978, a live recording of Dylana playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto was released. Her 1981 recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto was one of the first major classical music albums recorded digitally. This recording was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1982!

In 1982, Dylana recorded Brahms Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 and 3 with pianist Samuel Sanders. Her 2005 Carnegie Hall performance was also recorded. It includes her playing the Goldmark Violin Concerto No. 1. In 2008, Dylana recorded the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 and the Barber Violin Concerto. She played these with the London Symphony Orchestra using her special Zygmuntowicz violin.