Jeanne Coonan received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music and her Master of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College. She taught public school Instrumental Music in upstate New York for over 35 years. Her experience includes teaching elementary, middle, and high school bands, as well as string lessons and General Music classes. Her elementary bands received "Superior" ratings at the Annapolis, MD Music Festival in 1996, 1998, and 2007, where they performed original commissioned compositions each time. She was awarded the 2017 Rochester Philharmonic Outstanding Music Educator Award for Band in April 2017. She is currently an adjunct professor in Music Education at both Roberts Wesleyan College and Nazareth College.
At the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, Ms. Coonan was co-founder of the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony and Hochstein Youth Wind Symphony, both created to give motivated middle and high school students an in-depth performing experience.
In addition to teaching, she performs as a bassoonist for the Roberts Wesleyan College-Community Orchestra and the Penfield Symphony.
Ms. Coonan also holds a Certificate in Labor Studies from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and was active in both the Webster Teachers' Association as an elected officer and the New York State United Teachers throughout her career. In addition, she has been an adjudicator and instructor for drum corps and marching bands nationwide.