Ms. Jennifer A. Theilacker tenured educator, adjudicator, consultant, and presenter with over twenty years of music education experience.
Residing in Harlem, New York, Jennifer serves as the Director of Music at KIPP: Infinity Middle School. In addition, Jennifer is the Associate Conductor of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Founder of the KIPP Upper Harlem Music Academy, jazz educator at the Harlem School of the Arts, and is a primary conducting, leadership instructor, and adjudicator at the Drum Major Leadership Academy. She has previously taught Jazz at Lincoln Center with their middle school jazz band program, The Harmony Program, and Horizons at Brooklyn Friends. Before moving to Manhattan, Jennifer previously taught instrumental music in Brooklyn, New York, at Philippa Schuyler Intermediate School (I.S. 383) for the Gifted and Talented, and in the South Bronx at M.S. 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. Miss Theilacker is the past Associate Director of Music Programs at the Boys and Girls Harbor in Harlem. From 2001-2009 Ms. Theilacker was the director of the 5th and 6th-grade bands in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District. Under her tenure, the L-S 6th Grade Band commissioned a work by the world-renowned composer Michael Story. She also involved her students in local and regional festivals, including the Hofstra University Middle School Honors Band. Ms. Theilacker has also taught band and general music at the prestigious Tatnall School in Wilmington, DE.
Ms. Theilacker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Millersville University. Jennifer received a Master’s Equivalency Certificate in Music Education for completing graduate work at the following institutions: Hofstra University, West Chester University, Millersville University, and The University of the Arts. She is currently studying at Central Washington University in conjunction with the American Band College, and will receive a Master of Music degree with specialization in Music Education. There, Jennifer has had the opportunity to play under the batons of composer Julie Giroux, Johan de Meij, John Mackey and conductors Dr, Cynthia Johnston Turner, Frank Wickes, Paula Crider, Anthony Maeillo, Michael Bankhead, & Ray Cramer, to name a few. Ms. Theilacker’s past professional conducting engagements include the 2006 American Music Abroad Blue Tour, which performed in Germany, Italy, Austria, and Hungary, the 50th Anniversary Concert of the Queens Borough Wide Band in NYC in 2008 and the LLMEA Youth Middle School Youth Band Festival in 2009. She has served as the assistant conductor of the Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band in Lampeter, Pennsylvania. Ms. Theilacker was the founder and conductor for the Lancaster County Youth Wind Ensemble, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Theilacker has studied clarinet with Janine Thomas and conducted with Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft and Dr. Brian Norcross. She has presented at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and several State Music Education Association Conferences. Jennifer is an honorary national member of Tau Beta Sigma(2022 and recipient of the Minority Band Directors National Association Meritorious Achievement Award (2022), recognizing her outstanding contributions and service to local, regional, and national music communities. She is a founding charter and lifetime member of the Association of Black Women Band Directors and serves as their financial secretary.
This summer she looks forward to returning with American Music Abroad to conduct high school musicians in a tour of Europe performing in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, and Germany.
In November 2023 Jennifer was selected to perform in the Band Directors Marching Band, from Saluting America’s Band Directors, 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, representing band directors around the world.
