My name is Dr. Jenna Dalbey and I have been performing and teaching in the Phoenix Metropolitan area since 2009. I am the cellist and program director of the Tetra String Quartet. Tetra is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that is creating opportunities that link performance with public service in Arizona. We are committed to engaging audiences from every corner of the community, which reflects our belief that access to the arts is an essential human right. Our Play Out! service initiative brings music to underserved communities such as the Phoenix VA Hospital, Maricopa Juvenile Detention Centers, and Florence Crittenton (a home for at-risk girls). We also created the Tempe-based Azure Family Concerts, which are fun, friendly and engaging performances tailored to children and young adults who are on the autism spectrum or have similar challenges.

I am a passionate educator and have maintained a private cello studio for over 15 years. I teach ages 3-adult from my home studio in Chandler (Ray/Dobson). I am a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University and with the Tetra String Quartet, have performed educational assemblies for thousands of K-12 students throughout Arizona. Tetra's Summer Chamber Music Workshops provide 9 intensive days of chamber music, pop song arranging, fiddling, and improvisation to string students grades 6-12. Tetra was invited to teach for two summers at Stanford University’s Summer Arts Institute, “Why Music Matters” and in 2014 and 2015, the quartet was selected to present sessions on their educational curriculum and musical entrepreneurship at the American String Teacher’s Association National Conference.  

I was a 2017 recipient of the AZ Central's Who's Next: Arts List (a monthly recognition program showcasing influencers in different fields). I am also a proud Class 39 graduate of the prestigious Valley Leadership Institute. VLI is a 9-month program that teaches leaders how have a deep impact on their community. Through this program, I helped plan and build the Pathway to Urban Gardening area at The Farm at South Mountain. This space teaches kids how to build an inexpensive garden in their own backyard using recycled materials.

I earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree cello in performance at Arizona State University. My dissertation (Community-Based Chamber Ensembles: How to Build a Career that Infuses Performance with Public Service) focuses on the philosophy behind developing community-based ensembles, and the entrepreneurship skills groups must develop to have a successful career. I earned a Master of Music Degree at the University of Maryland and a Bachelors of Music Degree from Arizona State University. My principal teachers include Thomas Landschoot, Evelyn Elsing, and Peter Wiley. 

I am grateful for my supportive husband Danny and our two cats Duke and Ocha. I love hiking, traveling, and eating delicious food! I am originally from Columbus, Ohio, but have been a desert transplant since 2003.