Dr Jennie Joy Porton

From Cardiff, Dr Jennie Joy Porton attended the Royal College of Music a ‘year early’ aged 17, on the Joint Principal Study pathway, on clarinet and saxophone.

Her teachers included Janet Hilton, Kyle Horch and Martin Robertson. She also took a semester of study on clarinet at the Universitat Mozarteum in Salzburg and received intensive saxophone training in New York from Dr Paul Cohen (of Manhattan School of Music faculty).

With support from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, EMI Sound Foundation, Elizabeth Evans Trust and the Arts Council of Wales ‘HRH Prince of Wales Advanced Music Award’, Jennie completed a MMus at RWCMD, also on a Joint Principal Study clarinet and saxophone pathway, earning the award for the highest recital mark on this Masters program.

Jennie has a PhD from Royal Holloway University, undertaken with a scholarship awarded by the university (supervisor Professor Tina K. Ramnarine, examiners Professor Steph Pitts and Professor Amanda Bayley). Jennie’s research involves a discussion of conservatoire practices from alumni perspectives covering three decades of attendance. Issues explored include class, notions of identity, and health and wellbeing.

As a freelancer, Jennie enjoys a varied performance career. In 2019, she was part of the orchestra for Matthew Bourne’s world premiere production of Romeo and Juliet, with a residency in Sadler’s Wells, live performance screening in cinemas across the UK, and a UK tour. Other notable performing work includes the Miss Saigon UK and Ireland tour and the UK leg of Idina Menzel’s world tour (venues including Wembley Arena).

Jennie also works regularly with the Welsh National Opera and BBC National Orchestra of Wales on both clarinet and saxophone, joining them on both UK and foreign tours. With these ensembles, as well as the Ulster Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Jennie has been involved in numerous television and radio broadcasts (BBC stations, S4C and Classic FM).

She freelances in London’s West End and on touring musical theatre productions and has been frequently invited to join New York City based disco-funk group Escort on their European tour dates.

As a teacher, Jennie teaches saxophone and clarinet/saxophone doubling, and supervises students on academic projects, at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has also worked in a teaching and coaching capacity at the New York Summer Music Festival.