ABOUT JEANNI

Hi there! Thanks for visiting. Peek into my *unusual* life.
I grew up in a small house in rural northern Utah, and spent my childhood hiking waterfalls, up Ben Lomond peak over the icy ledges, playing in the swift Weber River, and having near-death experiences with my courageous older sister, and my luckily immortal 5 younger siblings. Whew.

In HS I loved All-State Choir and competitive dance company, and got a job in New York the day after I graduated. The job was bad but NYC was epic. Then off to college on a Nat’l Merit Scholarship, with no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I knew I wanted to do it while speaking French.

STORY: So off I went at age 20 –in the winter--on a long solo unstructured and unsupervised adventure. I lived in Paris for 5 months, singing on the streets and playing guitar for my rent. (It’s hard to get a piano on the Metro.) I spent a month in Italy jumping into the Mediterranean and the Adriatic seas, and finally 2 weeks in Greece, camping by myself on a tiny Aegean sea island. Can I just mention that donkeys are scary when they chase you with their big teeth snapping?

There’s a love story in here too, but I’ll save that for another time.

Besides travel and music, my genuine mission in life is engaging with youth. People ask, “Jeanni, how do you get along so well with teens?” I say, “I love them. And they feel it. Plus, I’m really immature myself.” Living my best life.

STORY: As a college freshman, I got a sweet idea to give a Christmas gift to Jesus. I knew He’d want a humble heart and perfect obedience. But I chose something easier. I wrote Him a song: “Circle of Love,” a M/F duet about Jesus’ own birth. It turned out to also be a gift to my own soul. And I’ve never looked back.

How did I get paid to write music?
I sent a “Youth Activities & Songs” book sample to Christian publisher Deseret Book Company. The said yes! The company requested 3 more books over 10 years. Each book has a whole set of fresh songs for youth to learn and perform. Plus see my 6 CDs on this site? So pretty, right? The company did the cover designs, except I did the Butterfly! The Christmas CD has two of my own children singing . . . that very first Christmas song.

I am so grateful. Every message I receive telling how a song lifted someone’s heart, makes me dance with joy! My music’s been sung in churches around the world, loved by singers and musicians of all ages, translated into multiple languages, earned recognitions and awards, performed at BYU, at Temple Square, and with friends and families across the world. I am so grateful.

MY MOTTO: It's amazing how much you can accomplish if you never sleep.
In my ‘spare’ time, I host a volunteer Youth Chorus at my home that has been going for 15 years; the kids change out but keep in touch.

FAMILY: My wonderful husband Brian is the love of my life. We were married the week I graduated from college. We have lived across the USA and our family mantra is: It’s not worth moving if you don’t move at least 2,000 miles. I am honored to be the mother of two brilliant and independent-minded children, and host my perfect grand-darlings with geocaching and scavenger hunt adventures.

I bike, kayak, hike, read all night, and plan trips off the beaten track. I love to play the piano. I have a fabulous Schimmel 6’ grand piano and it has powerful bass that rocks the house. The neighbors say they like it! I love them. I love to laugh, I love chocolate, I love my family, and I love God.