Jess Griggs is currently working at the classical radio station, WQXR in NYC. There she does a variety of things, including, audio production, social media management, and writing for their blog. Additionally, she is the manager for the award winning, contemporary percussion ensemble, Up/Down, and is a contributor for the contemporary music journal, I CARE IF YOU LISTEN.
Before her move to NYC, Jess worked as an intern with NPR at their D.C. headquarters. At HQ, she did audio production for NPR Worldwide, SiriusXM, and the American Armed Forces channels. In addition, she helped with the shows, Planet Money and How I Built This, and perhaps the most exciting – aided with audio for Tiny Desk concerts.
At age 16, Jess Griggs began studying at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) under the principal trombonist of the North Carolina Symphony, John Ilika. While there she played with a variety of ensembles. After receiving her diploma at UNCSA, Jess continued her musical studies at Schwob School of Music with trombone professor, Dr. Bradley Palmer. After a few months of playing whole notes in the back of the orchestra, sitting in the practice rooms buzzing into a metal tube, and questioning the meaning of life – Jess came to the conclusion that something was missing from her musical experience.
Through a suggestion of a friend, Jess took a basic audio class, and surprisingly she found it filled the void trombone couldn’t. The perfect marriage of art and science (and not to mention the weird electroacoustic music) audio technology hooked her. Jess formerly started her audio technology studies with Dr. Matthew McCabe soon afterwards.
Her recording career kicked off with a position at the university’s recording studio and running live sound at the local music venue. Over the past 3 years, she has had a chance to work on the CD’s of notable artists; including, Gerry Pagano (bass trombonist of St. Louis Symphony), and George Curran (bass trombonist of New York Philharmonic). Other past audio engagements include: Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab in Ojai, CA, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and Interlochen Center for the Performing Arts in Interlochen, MI.