
Jane Walker
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