Jennifer Presar

Jennifer Presar, a Buckhannon, WV native, recently retired from Southern Illinois University where she taught horn and music theory courses for more than 20 years.  She has also served as the Assistant Director of the School of Music for 5 years. She holds a BM in theory and composition from the University of Illinois and a MM in horn performance from West Virginia University. Her principal teachers include Virginia Thompson, Kazimirez Machala, and David Cottrell.

Ms. Presar has maintained an active freelance career as the principal horn of the Paducah Symphony (KY). She has performed with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra (MI), Jackson Symphony Orchestra (TN), Orchestra Kentucky, Gateway Chamber Orchestra (TN), Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony (IL), West Virginia Symphony, Wheeling Symphony (WV), the Illinois Symphony, and others throughout Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Before working on her graduate degrees, Jennifer worked in marketing and arts administration at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Illinois and for the West Virginia Public Theatre.

In July 2025, Jennifer returned to WVU as the new academic advisor for the School of Music