About the Perkins Band Program 
Jessica Calandra: The Band Teacher 
Jessica teaches Band and Orchestra at Perkins Elementary, Magnet School for the Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, and she is Founder and Executive Director of FloriMezzo, Florida Musicians Educational Society. She received her B.A. in Clarinet Performance from the University of South Florida and continued her studies at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and The University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Jessica’s teaching experience includes: 1990-present
Private teaching studio for clarinet, flute, and saxophone.
1995-1996
Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Nebraska, focusing in the area of private instruction and chamber ensemble coaching.
1996-1998
Volunteer Private Lessons for Bootstrap After Care program in W.I.
1998-1999
Employed by REM, an organization that works to teach and help improve life quality for emotionally and developmentally disabled adults.
1999-2000
Employed as the General Music teacher at Northwest Middle School in Chicago, Illinois.
1997-2000
Created, developed, and instructed Song Writing and Composition classes at Summer Play Youth Arts Camp at the University of South Florida.
2000-2001
Teacher for Pinellas Youth Symphony Summer Camp. Taught Composition Class and participated in small chamber ensemble coaching.
2000-Present
Is employed as an Instrumental Music Teacher at Perkins Elementary. Projects include:
Created, developed, and participated in Perkins’ unique instrumental Music Fundraisers “Italian Night” and Concerto Café” which helped raise money for the Suzuki Violin Program at Perkins. Teaching Duties include: 1st Grade Suzuki Violin Instruction, Third Grade Band, Flute Choir, Clarinet Quartet, Brass Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, and Chamber Winds, The 4th& 5th Grade Advanced Orchestra “Chamber Strings” and Guitar Focus.
2001-Present
Developing Suzuki Violin Program at Perkins, which provides violins and instruction for all 1st and 2nd Grade Students at Perkins Elementary. Created and developed the Perkins Chamber Ensemble program, where all Perkins 4th and 5th Grade band students participate and perform in Chamber Ensemble groups.
2003 - Present
Jessica found the Florida Musicians Educational Society, FloriMezzo. 501c3 Non Profit FloriMezzo www.florimezzo.org |
Mission
FloriMezzo is a nonprofit organization with the mission to provide performance and educational opportunities for community musicians, students, and teachers, By doing this we hope to increase the quality of music education, foster relationships within the field of music performance, and revitalize community interest in classical chamber music. Philosophy
Our organization is based on the philosophy that live classical music will regain an audience if community musicians with varied musical experience and background are given the opportunity to actively participate as performers. Our concerts reach a broad community base because of the diversity of our musicians. Not only do we involve a diverse group of musicians, we program mixed chamber music pieces to meet the needs of the wide variety of instruments played by our members. Variety and diversity is our specialty! Jessica’s Founding Philosophy: “As a musician, it has always been a goal of mine to find opportunities for continued growth in music performance. As a music educator, I am concerned with the present situation in which serious students with limited financial resources have few opportunities for chamber music training. Likewise, adults who do not fall within strict festival age requirements, have very few opportunities to perform chamber music. It is my goal to provide teachers, community musicians, and advanced students with the opportunity to perform high quality classical music! Come join me to help change the face of music education and performance in our community!” Return |