Jessica Ziegler
Jessica Ziegler grew up studying the Suzuki method of classical violin in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She received her Bachelor's degree in Viola performance and pedagogy at Indiana University, where she studied with well-respected pedagogue Mimi Zweig, head of the Indiana University String Academy. It was within the vibrant folk music community of Bloomington, Indiana that Jessica began playing Irish fiddle in 1998. Jessica received her Master's degree in Viola performance and pedagogy at Northwestern University, where she was the graduate teaching fellow at Northwestern's String Academy and a student of world-famous pedagogue Roland Vamos.
Jessica has played the viola professionally in the Accessible Contemporary Music series in Chicago, the Mostly Mozart Festival in San Luis Obispo, CA, the Juilliard School's orchestra at the Spoleto Festival in Italy, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO. She is a member of Chicago's Broken Pledge Céilí Band, the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil champion band in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. In 2009, she was awarded an advanced-level teaching certification (T.T.C.T.) from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and in 2011, she taught at the Scoil Éigse, a week-long series of classes held every year in Ireland, directly preceding the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
