Jenny Bent

Jenny Bent is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Associate Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities at Sonoma State University. Additionally, she manages Chanticleer’s summer program, Chanticleer in Sonoma. She earned degrees from Boston University (BM & MM Voice Performance, MM Choral Conducting) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA Choral Conducting & Choral Literature).

Described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as “superb” with “excellent diction and well-controlled dynamics,” Dr. Bent’s choirs have earned unanimous superior ratings and command performances at festivals throughout California. Recipient of the 2019 California Music Educators Association Bay Section Outstanding Choral Educator Award, Dr. Bent for a decade enjoyed teaching high school music, most recently as Choral Director at the Marin School of the Arts and voice faculty member at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Presently, Dr. Bent’s premier SSU ensemble, SonoVoce, looks forward to performing in February at CASMEC (California All-State Music Education Conference) in Fresno, CA.

Dr. Bent serves as an adjudicator, guest conductor, clinician, and conference presenter for organizations including the California Music Educators Association, the American Choral Directors Association, Golden State, and NorCal. She is currently Treasurer for the California Choral Directors Association and from 2007-2014 hosted The Choir Loft on KRCB-FM.

Photo of Jenny Bent by Sonoma State University