Principal Flute

Jane Walker is an Iowa native and grew up in Decorah, Iowa. Walker attended school in Iowa City in 1969. Auditioned for the Cedar Rapids Symphony in 1973, then led by Rich Williams. Walker made Iowa City her permanent home, raised two amazing children, Matt and Rachael, with her husband David Hempel. Life is full and rich with music-making, teaching, friends, family, rescued animals and a never-ending list of knitting projects

Home:

Iowa City, IA

Year Joined Orchestra Iowa

1973

Education & Teachers:

BM and MM in Flute Performance, The University of Iowa

Betty Bang Mather and Tadeo Coelho

Favorite Symphonic Piece

Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms

Favorite Memory With Orchestra Iowa

Playing side by side with my husband David Hempel, Principal Oboe.

How did you start playing your instrument?

I listened to Bernstein Young People’s Concerts on Sunday afternoons and heard Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. That’s all it took to want to play the flute.

Who are your musical inspirations?

Julius Baker, Paula Robison, Yo Yo Ma, Glen Gould

If you weren’t a professional musician, what career would you have?

High school biology teacher

List three things always found in your refrigerator:

chocolate, leftover coffee, and more chocolate

Who would play you in a movie?

Ernest Borgnine