Jessica Pearce ’09 has received the Doctor of Musical Art Degree in Horn Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign this past December.

During her career, Dr. Pearce has been the principal horn of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, Assistant Principal of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and guest principal of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared with regional symphonies in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa.  Before working on her doctorate, she was the horn instructor at the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts in Arlington Heights and at Lake Zurich School District #95.  She is currently adjunct instructor of French horn at both Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Congratulations, Jessica!