Jenn Clempner

Jenn Clempner is an academic and music industry professional at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, serving as Curriculum Lead in Artist Development for the BMus (Hons) Popular Music programme. She holds multiple teaching roles including Course Leader for Professional Engagement, Lecturer and Mentor in Artist Development, Lecturer in Stagecraft, and Lecturer in Digital Journalism within the Popular Music Department. She also serves as an MA Supervisor and was a Member of the Academic Board from 2022-2024.

Jenn Clempner trained in acting and voice at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before embarking on a diverse music career. She has worked as a session musician with The Hoosiers (Sony BMG), performed at major festivals, appeared on Top of the Pops, BBC Radio 2, T4, and Popworld, and served as record label manager at Beatroute Records. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Music Education at Erasmus University Rotterdam, focusing on culture, pedagogy, and gender in higher popular music education.

Her research interests center on intersections of culture, pedagogy, and gender in higher popular music education with particular emphasis on mental health, well-being, resilience, and sustainable careers. She advocates for women in music, neurodiversity awareness, and mental health in creative industries. Jenn is a contributing member of the Rotterdam Popular Music Studies (RPMS) research group and has spoken at numerous industry and education conferences across the UK and Europe.

As an active contributor to the music education field, Jenn has presented at Music Week Poland 2025, MIME Conference 2024, The F-list Annual Conference 2024, and Women in Music Leadership Online Network Annual Conference 2023. Her work explores generational discourse, the Queen Bee phenomenon in music, and BEDI initiatives in higher music education. She also serves as an External Examiner for ICMP London, contributing to academic quality assurance in music education.

• PhD candidate at Erasmus University Rotterdam
• External Examiner for ICMP London
• Member of Rotterdam Popular Music Studies (RPMS) research group
• Fully funded PhD research at Erasmus University

Beyond her academic roles, Jenn is a dedicated endurance swimmer committed to personal discipline and growth. Her professional practice portfolio includes performing as a vocal-pianist, composition and musical direction, artist development, event promotion, performance booking, logistics coordination, and digital marketing strategy, providing students with direct insights into the realities of today's music industry.