B i o g r a p h y
Jennifer Stoehner has played the piano since she was a young child. Her piano was given to her family by her Grandfather Harold Krefft when her mother & father moved to Alto, New Mexico in 1978. She began formal piano theory training by Celeste Cox when she was 6 years old. When she was 8, she started her studies under piano & vocal instructor Waynta Wirth. During this time, Jennifer discovered her gift of playing by ear. Waynta embraced her gift and began to give her ear training lessons. Jennifer performed various classics at the Spring & Christmas Recitals.
On March 23, 2002, Jennifer's world fell apart. Her house burned down in the Kokopelli Fire in Alto, NM. Jennifer was devastated to have her childhood home destroyed. Only a few tangled strings were left of her Grandfather's piano. After a few months, Jennifer's parents bought her an electric piano to continue her piano studies until they could replace her Grandfather's piano. Jennifer was excited to have a piano again. She began to play without ceasing. She had headphones that she plugged into her piano and would play into the late hours of the night. It became a release for Jennifer from the tragedy of losing her home. During this time, her passion for music grew deeper and she started writing music. She continued her studies with Waynta and performed her first original songs at her studio recitals.
Jennifer's senior year of high school, she joined a band called Led by Fire. She played with musicians Emily Hobbs & Michael Kelly. The band played at The Roastery and Books & Beans in Ruidoso, NM. She wrote and recorded her first single in 2003 called Falling Into You. Jennifer also wrote her senior class graduation song and performed it at the Commencement Ceremony at Horton Stadium in Ruidoso, NM. Jennifer was nominated "Most likely to play in Carnegie Hall" by her senior class. This is a dream that she still desires to accomplish one day for her original instrumental piano compositions.
In 2003, Jennifer went to New Mexico State University to study her other passion in art. While studying at New Mexico State, she focused on drawing, painting, and jewelry making. During this time, she continued her musical studies. In college, she played in the CREW and Destino Band at her local campus ministry. She also did a concert at The Bean in Mesilla, NM. During the summers she visited Vail, Colorado and Venice Beach, California. She was in the UnVailed and Venice Beach Boardwalk Band. In 2005, Jennifer recorded her first CD called Falling Into You at the Flying J Recording Studio. She also performed in several weddings throughout college. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New Mexico State University in 2007.
In the Fall of 2007, Jennifer went to graduate school to get her teaching certificate. She taught Kindergarten for four years. During this time she gained many great life skills. She helped children learn to read and gave them a love for music and art. During this time, she was involved with church worship bands. She also played a special concert at Atticus Books and Tea House and with her church band in the Fourth of July Parade. Jennfier advanced in her song writing abilities and wrote several more hits such as: When I pray, Your Radiance, My Joy, and You Are Alive. She is preparing to record her second CD called You Are the Reason.
Today, Jennifer Stoehner continues to pursue her music and art career. She gives piano and voice lessons. She loves teaching her students and strives to teach like her teacher taught her. Jennifer has performed at several venues such as: The Village Buttery, Landlocked, The Blue Goose, Wendell's Lounge at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, Tree House Cafe, Tina's Cafe, and Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club. She plays for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, dinner parties, restaurant & lounge entertainment, private parties, and any other special event. She strives to make each event unique as she helps celebrate your special day! Jennifer also specializes in custom portraits to capture her auidence. Her subject matter varies in the from of familes, pets, european architectual portraits, military portraits, house portraits, and landscapes. She desires to help you remember your special memories through realism. She designed the label for Noisy Water Winery's best seller Big Legs Red, She also desinged the entry sign for Alto Country Club & Mountain Air Cabins. She loves sharing her art with the community!
