About Frances

“Without music, life is a journey through a desert.”
-Pat Conroy

When asked what is most important to her about music, Frances Colón Jiménez answers, “Music has the power to bring people together. United in music we learn and share music and aspects from different cultures. Music has the power to break barriers in people from different backgrounds.”

Regarded as a performer of special sensibility and mastery as well as an inspiring educator, Frances began her music career at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Music School in Puerto Rico. As early as 1984, she was accepted in the Program for Young Talented Musicians at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where, while still in high school, she began pursuing studies towards completion of her bachelor’s degree in music. She spent that summer under scholarship in the prestigious Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan and graduated from high school with High Honors the following year.

By 1987, she was selected as a guest soloist with the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the following year, at the age of 18, she was selected by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra to perform with the orchestra as well as the Festival Casals Orchestra for the entire season. Her success continued as Frances performed with the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado for two consecutive summers. All of these experiences built a strong foundation that molded her into a fine performer at a very young age.

In 1990, Frances completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance and Music Education at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where she was awarded highest honors in the Wind Department. This same year, she was selected to perform as soloist with the Padre Antonio Soler Chamber Orchestra.

In 1992, she completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Central Florida and was elected to membership into The Society of Pi Kappa Lambda, the only college honor society in music recognized by its membership in the Association of College Honor Societies. The selection was based on Frances’ scholarship, musicianship, and personal character. While pursuing graduate studies, Frances had the opportunity to perform with the Orlando Symphony Orchestra as well as the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Florida. Upon completion of her master’s degree, Frances was given a scholarship to participate at Music Academy of the West during the summer as well as an invitation to perform as a guest artist at the Banff Music Centre for the Arts in Canada during two summer sessions.

The budding musician who has always seen music as a gift began to see the need for helping audiences better understand classical music, and with this in mind, she founded the Madera Oboe Trio, a group with which she toured throughout the United States. The group presented innovative interactive music programs helping the audience develop a better appreciation of music by learning about musical styles, composers and eras as well as basic elements of music.

Frances was admitted into the Eastman School of Music to pursue further graduate studies in oboe with the renown Richard Killmer. Following Eastman, she was admitted into University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where while pursuing graduate studies, she won the University of Illinois Concerto Competition in 1998, performing as soloist with the symphony orchestra. She was also graduate teaching assistant to Nancy Ambrose King.

Frances received her Doctorate Degree in Music Performance and Literature in May, 2000. She is the only Puerto Rican professional oboist to hold a Doctorate Degree in Oboe Performance and Literature.

Never wanting to leave a stone unturned, Dr. Colón makes sure to stay abreast of the newest research in music education and performance in order to keep her teaching innovative, unique to the learner, and motivating for both parties.

Frances' resume -->