Special Music School Faculty:
Jenny Undercofler
Jenny Undercofler is a leading force in contemporary music education, having served as the music director for the Kaufman Center's Special Music School since 2004. The Special Music School is the only public school in New York City that integrates pre-conservatory music education with academic studies, providing an unparalleled training environment for musically gifted children.
Ms. Undercofler also co-founded and leads the youth ensemble Face the Music. In residence at the Kaufman Center, Face the Music breaks the boundaries of classical music education and performance, featuring today's music presented by the emerging artistic voices of tomorrow. The group burst onto the scene in 2005, performing works by such new-music mainstays as Michael Gordon, Phil Kline and John Adams.
Prior to joining the Kaufman Center, Ms. Undercofler spent six years at the The Julliard School, in the Solfège Department of the Pre-College Division. She was also on the theory faculty at Queens College and on the piano faculty at the Third Street Music Settlement.
Ms. Undercofler is an accomplished pianist who has performed with many New York City area musicians and ensembles -- including Ensemble Sospeso , Eos Orchestra, Stamford Symphony and the Westchester Symphony -- and has worked with prominent composers such as Martin Bresnick, David Del Tredici and Julia Wolfe. She holds B.M. and M.M. degrees in piano performance from The Juilliard School and a D.M.A. from the Eastman School of Music. Ms. Undercofler is the Music Director of the Kaufman Center's Special Music School.