Personal Summary

Dr. Jennifer Gookin Cavanaugh, Interim Dean of the College of the Arts and Media, joined the University of Montana in August of 2009 and has served as Professor of Oboe and Theory and Director of the School of Music.  Professor Cavanaugh is thrilled to reside in her native state of Montana after ten successful years of teaching in the Midwest at Luther College and at Central Michigan University’s School of Music.   

Dr. Cavanaugh is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist.  She is frequently invited to perform solo and chamber music recitals throughout the United States, and she is currently the principal English horn player with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra.  She regularly performs principal oboe and/or English horn duties with organizations such as the String Orchestra of the Rockies and the Yakima Symphony Orchestra.   While at Central Michigan University, Ms. Cavanaugh was a member of the Powers Woodwind Quintet. She can be heard on their recent release on the White Pine Music Label, which features “Gems” for the Woodwind Quintet. 

Dr. Cavanaugh is in demand as an adjudicator for state and regional music festivals, and she is frequently invited to present master classes and clinics to students of all ages.  She is passionate about reaching out to young musicians and visits high schools on a regular basis to provide assistance to developing double reed players.  She serves on the faculty at the University of Montana Summer Band Camp.

Dr. Cavanaugh’s interests include relaxation techniques for oboists as well as commissioning and performing new compositions for the oboe and English horn. She is an active performer and presenter at international, national, and regional conferences. Recent engagements include performances at the International Double Reed Society Conferences in Georgia, Tokyo, New York, and California.

Ms. Cavanaugh’s primary teachers include Rebecca Henderson, James Brody, and Tad Margelli and her degrees are from the University of Washington (DMA), the University of Colorado at Boulder (MM), and Central Washington University (BM).  She lives in Missoula with her husband, Brian, and their children, Carmen and Samuel.