Musicians from Home: Jenna McSwain

NOMA presents a series of virtual concerts featuring a range of music’s best and brightest performing from their homes. Assembled by internationally renowned multi-instrumentalist and composer Mahmoud Chouki, enjoy these relaxed and informal music experiences with acclaimed musicians from New Orleans and beyond.

About Jenna McSwain

Known for her bold musical choices and fearless delivery, Jenna McSwain delivers captivating performances in a wide variety of genres as a keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter. Forging her path as a musician ever since childhood, McSwain led her four sisters as they performed spirituals throughout the low country of South Carolina. By the time she was in high school, Jenna was an active player in the Charleston jazz scene. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina and a Masters in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. After graduating, Jenna moved to New Orleans to soak up the big beat that had called to her ever since she had visited the city as a child. She continues to call New Orleans home, where she and her husband now have two children.

McSwain has opened for Patti Austin, Ramsey Lewis, and the New York Voices, and has performed with jazz greats including Marian McPartland and Houston Person. She continues to perform in the New Orleans music scene with her own jazz and pop groups, as well as with progressive rock band Bionica. In addition to her performance career, McSwain has shared passion for music education with students at Northwest College and at the University of South Carolina. She currently is currently a full-time professor in the Popular and Commercial Music program at Loyola University New Orleans. Jenna feels most fulfilled when exploring her path as a songwriter, and will be releasing her next work, a five-song EP entitled “Enjoy Your Space,”in the summer of 2021.

Learn more: Instagram: @JennaMcSwainsta

Facebook: facebook.com/MusicianJennaMcSwain

YouTube: youtube.com/JennaMcSwain

Patreon: patreon.com/JennaMcSwain

View the full Musicians from Home series

 


NOMA is committed to uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures through the arts — now more than ever. Your gift will make a direct and immediate impact as NOMA welcomes our community back to the museum and sculpture garden, plans new exhibitions, and develops virtual and at-home arts education resources for school partners.

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Education and outreach initiatives at NOMA are supported in part by the Zemurray Foundation; the Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr. Foundation; The Helis Foundation; The Gayle and Tom Benson Foundation; The City of New Orleans; IBERIABANK; The Wagner Foundation; Janice Parmelee and Bill Hammack; the Diversifying Art Museum Leadership Initiative, funded by the Walton Family Foundation and the Ford Foundation; Sara and David Kelso; Patrick F. Taylor Foundation;  Dr. Scott S. Cowen; The RosaMary Foundation; The Azby Fund; the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency; The Collins C. Diboll Private Foundation; Burkenroad Foundation; Marian Dreux Van Horn Education Endowment; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation;  Ruby K. Worner Trust through the PNC Charitable Trusts Grant Review Committee; The Harry T. Howard III Foundation; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc.; Harvey and Marie Orth; The Bruce J. Heim Foundation; and Mrs. Bennett A. Molter, Jr. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.