"Performing on both the viola and the viola d'amore, Jennifer Thiessen cultivates a particular interest in classical and contemporary chamber music, new composed and improvised music, and historically informed performance practice. She is expanding the contemporary repertoire of both the viola and the viola d'amore through the creation of new compositions, and through songwriting and improvisation.

Jennifer recently commissioned and performed an entire programme of new works for solo viola d'amore by composers in Montreal and Ottawa, and a new piece by Matthias Maute for viola d'amore and pedal harpsichord. These works were presented by the Ottawa New Music Creators and Innovations en Concert in 2015. She has worked on new music with many composers and improvisers, notably: Gavin Bryars, Matthias Maute, Christopher Butterfield, Cassandra Miller, Michael Matthews, Steven Gellman, Rainer Wiens, Isaiah Ceccarelli, Pierre-Yves Martel, Megan Jerome, Mike Essoudry, Jan Jarvlepp, Jen McLaughlan, Leo Lightstone, Ida Toninato, Michel F. Côté, Michel Lambert, Giorgio Magnanensi, Nicole Lizée, Scott Godin, Alexandra Fol, Brian Harman, Matthew Ricketts, Géraldine Eguiluz and Jerry Semshychyn. From 2007 to 2012, Jennifer toured the world with the dance company La La La Human Steps, performing new chamber music by Gavin Bryars and David Lang in the productions Amjad and New Work.

As a freelance musician, Jennifer has recently performed and recorded with such ensembles as Ensemble Caprice (Matthias Maute), Collectif 9, Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal,Quatuor Bozzini, La Bande Montréal Baroque (Sigiswald Kuijken) and Ensemble Per Sonare. She has previously performed chamber music with Quatuor Franz-Joseph, Mireille Lagacé, Les Boréades (Francis Colprin), Ensemble Allogène, and Trio '86, and has joined such ensembles as La Machine, Clavecin en Concert (Luc Beauséjour), Ensemble Appassionata, Les Violons du Roy, l'Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra, l'Orchestre des grands ballets canadiens de Montréal and l'Orchestre symphonique de Laval. She has performed with Sarah Slean, Martha Wainwright and Leif Vollebeck, is featured on Joe Silva's soundtrack to the film Black Field, and can be heard on recordings by Michel F. Côté, Michel Lambert, Mike O'Brien, John Carroll, Courtney Wing, Antoine Berthiaume, and The Record of the Week Club.

Originally from rural Manitoba, Jennifer studied violin with Elizabeth Lupton Ens in Winnipeg while obtaining a Bachelor of Theology. She completed a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance with David Stewart at the University of Manitoba and the University of Ottawa, followed by a Master of Viola Performance from l'Université de Montréal with Jutta Puchammer-Sédillot.

Jennifer also writes, sings and plays guitar for her pop music project Daily Alice, whose debut recording was released in December, 2014."