Meet the Local Flutist Behind the Memphis Youth Symphony Program
As a former student turned Executive Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program, flutist Jenny Davis has come full circle. She shares how music shaped her path, what inspires her work with young musicians, and why the Youth Symphony continues to play a vital role in Memphis’s cultural life. Image: Jamie Harmon
For Jenny Davis, the Memphis Youth Symphony Program (MYSP) isn’t just where she works — it’s a big part of her musical journey. As a young flutist, she once sat among the students she now serves as Executive Director of the program, sharing her passion with a new generation of musicians. We spoke to Jenny about coming full circle, what inspires her work, and why MYSP remains such a vital part of Memphis’s cultural landscape.
What are some of your earliest music memories?
When I was young, I spent a lot of time around horses, which came with a constant soundtrack of country music on the barn radio. Shania Twain, Leanne Rimes, and Patsy Cline were some of my favorites. Around 7, I decided it was time to begin my journey towards joining their ranks, so I asked my parents for a guitar.
My parents unknowingly signed me up for classical lessons instead of “country music guitar lessons,” and I remember wondering when I’d start learning how to sing and play the songs I heard on the radio. But then I saw a flute on my teacher’s bookshelf and everything changed. When I heard the sound, I decided the flute was really what I wanted to play. I switched when I was 10 and haven’t stopped playing since!
You participated in MYSP back in the day. What would young Jenny think about becoming its Executive Director?
Young Jenny would be very surprised! As is the case for most wind instrument players, most of my early experiences playing in a group were in a band setting at school. Playing in an orchestra was a rare opportunity and very different from playing in a band, where there are five to 10 flutes. In an orchestra, there are two or three — sometimes just one. Playing in the Youth Symphony was a big honor and gave me my first taste of what it would be like to be a professional musician.
It’s ultimately what compelled me to major in music in college. Even in high school, the flute brought me many unexpected opportunities along with meaningful experiences and relationships. I figured a career in music would take me in unexpected directions, and it certainly has. Finding myself back at the MYSP as Executive Director is definitely one of those surprising places, and “young Jenny” would be so excited to learn this was in her future.
What makes the Memphis Youth Symphony Program such a special experience for young musicians?
MYSP students get to play exciting music each week, grow as musicians, and put on amazing concerts — but it’s the community and friendships with others who share the love of music that make it special. Some students join MYSP in the second or third grade and continue through high school.
It’s amazing to see them grow as musicians and individuals, and it’s special to see the friendships that form. It’s important to have a place to belong at any age, but especially for young people. MYSP was that place for me, and it’s a privilege to help it continue to be that place for our students today.
What opportunities does the program create for students?
The MYSP is the only program in Memphis that provides young musicians with the opportunity to play in a full symphony orchestra year-round. Many schools in the Mid-South have band programs, some have orchestral string programs, but some schools don’t have either.
A huge part of MYSP’s mission is to provide access to great music education to all students, whether they want to become professional musicians or just love playing music with others.
All MYSP students work with professional orchestra musicians and college music professors on a regular basis, giving them access to musical mentors who can guide them through the college audition and scholarship process and beyond. Our most advanced students frequently play paying professional gigs through MYSP, which helps them learn all facets of being a professional musician beyond just playing their instruments at a high level.
What’s a moment that reminded you why music matters?
I recently attended the All-West Tennessee Band and Orchestra concerts, and the experience took me back to when I participated in All-West for the first time in the seventh grade. I recalled how making the band gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment — made me feel a part of a community of talented young musicians.
Seeing the hundreds of young people on the stage this year was inspiring. They all worked hard for their place on the stage, and I have no doubt that experience changed their lives.
Playing an instrument teaches so many things: problem-solving, communication, perseverance, collaboration, focus, and self-confidence. At its core, music is a collaborative and communal act. We don’t create it in isolation — we rehearse and perform it alongside others, learn from teachers who were once students themselves, and carry forward traditions that have been passed down through generations. In turn, we share that music with audiences, creating experiences that connect us all.
Are there any other projects you have going on that you can share?
One project close to my heart is my flute quartet, Eudaimonia Collective. According to Aristotle, “Eudaimonia is the highest human good, the only human good that is desirable for its own sake (as an end in itself) rather than for the sake of something else (as a means toward some other end).”
This idea brought the group together, as the concept is a shared goal for our lives as musicians and as humans. We just finished a recording project and a tour of composer David Kirkland Garner’s piece for flutes and electronics called “Longshore Drift,” which we commissioned.
Switching gears, what is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I cohost a weekly radio show called Sonosphere on WYXR every Monday afternoon. My cohost Amy Schaftlein and I play experimental, classical, electronic, world music, and more. We frequently have guest musicians, composers, and other artists on the show to talk about their work and play their music. The show is about exploring different kinds of music and learning about the creative practices of our guests.
What is a small daily ritual that brings you joy?
I love cooking and trying new recipes and new cuisines as much as possible. Any day that I can spend a good chunk of time in the kitchen cooking is a good day!
What is your best piece of advice?
Be curious! Always strive to keep learning and growing because you never know where a new road will lead you.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Three things you cannot live without? My record collection, cats, and Masterpiece Theatre
Favorite “hidden gem” in Memphis? The Beethoven Club
Best book you’ve read recently? Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
Favorite local small business to support? The End of All Art (and The End of All Music in Oxford)
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.