Faculty Bio: Jennifer Vacanti

Jennifer Vacanti received her Bachelors in Music Education and “Performer’s Certificate” from SUNY Fredonia, and her Masters from Ithaca College studying with acclaimed marimba soloist and composer Gordon Stout. Currently, Mrs. Vacanti teaches instrumental music in the Baldwinsville Central School District and is an adjunct faculty member at Onondaga Community College where her duties include co-directing the percussion ensemble and teaching percussion and drum set to non majors. In 2015, she received the “President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Librarianship.” 

Mrs. Vacanti also maintains a busy private studio and conducts. She has conducted the Rensselaer County High School Percussion Ensemble, the Oneida County Junior High Percussion Ensemble, the Cayuga County Junior High All-County Band, the CNY All-Star High School Percussion Ensemble and for 9 years directed the Baldwinsville High School Percussion Ensemble, winning two world championships in scholastic concert percussion at the WGI percussion finals in Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Vacanti enjoys sharing her love of world music, and has studied doumbek, frame drum, riq, mbira, Bata and djembe with such artists as Raquy Danziger, Layne Redmond and Bernard Woma.

Outside of teaching, Mrs. Vacanti keeps a busy performing schedule, playing with the Society for New Music, Symphoria, the Windham Chamber Orchestra, and Central Winds. She also plays for musicals throughout CNY. Mrs. Vacanti has also performed with the West Point Marimba Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Frederick Fennell, and in Nice, France for Showbiz Inc.