Jean Rife

Jean Rife is a Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she coaches ensembles in the MIT Chamber Music Society and holds woodwind and brass sectionals for the MIT Symphony Orchestra. She also serves on the brass and chamber music faculty at the New England Conservatory.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory of Music
• Master of Arts from Harvard University

Ms. Rife specializes in chamber music coaching, horn performance, and harpsichord revival since 2004. Her distinctive "Yoga for Musicians" workshops address physical wellness for performers nationwide. She actively performs Baroque repertoire, notably preparing J.S. Bach's complete Partitas for upcoming Killian Hall recitals, while maintaining dual performance careers on horn and harpsichord.

Her notable achievement includes:

• First prize at the Heldenleben International Horn Competition

As an educator, Ms. Rife mentors through ensemble coaching and sectionals, with extensive performance experience across five continents. Her recordings span major labels including Telarc, Harmonia Mundi, and BBC Radio broadcasts, reflecting diverse collaborations with artists like Marcus Thompson and Peggy Pearson.

She remains integral to MIT's performance ecosystem through the Chamber Music Society and Symphony Orchestra, while expanding her historical keyboard practice with Peter Sykes.