Anna Jensen

Applied Double Bass Lessons

Growing up in a large, musical family with five siblings, Dr. Anna Jensen was primed to excel at the double bass—while also developing a remarkable capacity for intuiting the needs of diverse learners. She embodies that rare combination of extraordinary musician and dynamic teacher.

Her passion for music translates to her deep involvement in education. In addition to instructing at the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University, she is the Executive Director of the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association and teaches during the summer at The Evergreen Music Festival and The Hammond Ashley Bass Workshop. Her double bass students have placed in the top three at the state level numerous times and frequently win concerto competitions across the region. Dr. Jensen has also taught at Central Washington University, Bowling Green State University, and was a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan. In recent years, Dr. Jensen was awarded the Outstanding Master Studio Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association, WA Chapter and the Washington State Music Educators Association “Friend of Music” award.

As a conductor, Dr. Jensen is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for contests and workshops across the region, including All-State orchestras. She conducts the Tacoma String Philharmonic at the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association and is the Director of Orchestras at the Annie Wright Schools.

Dr. Jensen is the assistant principal bassist of Symphony Tacoma, the principal bassist of the Tacoma Opera Orchestra, the principal bassist of Vashon Opera, and regularly performs with orchestras across the region. She has performed with the Second City Chamber Music Series, the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, the Kairos Music Festival and Lyceum, the Rackham Chamber Music Series, and the All Rivers at Once contemporary music series. Dr. Jensen has been the featured soloist with the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lake Chelan Bach Festival Orchestra, the Wenatchee Symphony Orchestra, and the Tacoma Young Artists Orchestra. Her vast interest in contemporary music has brought about numerous new chamber music works for the double bass and she has presented the world premieres. Dr. Jensen has won the Spokane Allied Arts Young Artist Competition, the Helen Snelling Crowe Competition, and was a finalist in the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition.

Receiving her doctorate in musical arts degree in double bass performance at the University of Michigan, she studied with Dr. Diana Gannett and was a graduate student instructor. She holds degrees from the University of Michigan (DMA and MM) and Central Washington University (BM) and has been the recipient of the Mildred Tuttle Fellowship, the Farrell Merit Scholarship-Grant and was awarded the Presser Scholar. When not performing or teaching, Anna can be found exploring the outdoors with her four children, hiking in the woods, or encouraging her own family’s improvisational skills and joy of music!