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Jay Oberfeitinger

Percussion

Jay Oberfeitinger

Biography

Jay Oberfeitinger is active as both a performer and educator in the Northeast TN and Southwest VA region. He has been a percussionist for the Knoxville Symphony since 1995; the principal percussionist for the Symphony of the Mountains since 2000; a founding member and principal percussionist for the Knoxville Wind Symphony since 2006 and is the “first-call” percussionist for the Barter Theatre inAbingdon,VA. He is a founding member of the Tri-Cities Jazz Masters quintet. Additionally, Jay is an Educator/Endorser for ProMark® drum sticks and mallets.

Jay recieved a BSM in Orchestral Performance from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA where he studied with Gerald Unger and Stanley Leonard of the Pittsburgh Symphony. He pursued graduate studies in Music Education at Miami University of Ohio where he studied with Dr. William Albin along with Dick Jensen and Eugene Espino of the Cincinnatti Symphony. Jay has also received a Master’s Degree in Education/Curriculum Design from the University of Phoenix.

He is the owner of PineTree Music, a private music teaching studio in Kingsport, TN and was the founding director of the Tri-Cities Homeschool Band & Orchestra. Jay has served as Percussion Instructor/Associate Director with the Dobyns-Bennet HS band and Orchestra, and as percussion consultant for the Tennessee HS Band (Bristol), Hamblin County Schools, and Hawkins County Schools (TN). He has served as a clinician and arranger for several schools in Southwestern PA and Western MI. Currently Jay serves as adjunct faculty in music at Virginia Highlands Community College where he is the director of the Percussion and Band Ensembles. Jay also serves as adjunct faculty for Emory & Henry College and King College; and is the Assistant Band Director for South Greene High School; Greene County, TN.

Jay has composed, arranged and performed music for two PBS documentary films: “Where the Wild Things Live; America’s Wildlife Refuges”, and “She Wrote My Friend Flicka” a biography of author Mary O’Hara. Recently Jay completed “Elements” for 2 percussionists and flute – in honor of the scientist Glenn Seaborg – which was commissioned by the ISOTONE Chamber Music Series, Oak Ridge TN. “Elements” had it’s world premiere performance in September of 2010.

* Member of the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra

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