At the age of 5, senior music major Kate Janzen received a birthday card from a family friend, and inside the card was a miniature electronic keyboard.

Bill Janzen, her father, said she picked up the card and began playing melodies like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Bill Janzen said, at that moment, the family knew Kate needed to be enrolled in piano lessons.

Kate Janzen’s musical career, which first started with a few minor piano lessons, has now evolved into a double major in jazz arrangement and classical theory and composition at Sacramento State.

Kate Janzen said her body knew she wanted to be a musician before she had made the decision on her own.

“When I was younger, I would experience physical pain if I wasn’t creating something – anything on a weekly basis,” Kate Janzen said. “When I got to college and starting composing, I stopped experiencing pain. I think that’s when I knew for sure I was where I needed to be.”

Derrick Koelsch, senior jazz studies major and friend of Kate Janzen, said not only is Kate Janzen a full-time student, but she also takes commissions from other students and teachers at Sac State.

These commissions include composing pieces for other students’ senior recitals and composing pieces for teachers to use in the classroom.

Janzen also uses her piano training to accompany Sac State’s intermediate jazz ensemble and the Bella Vista High School choir.

Koelsch said Kate Janzen’s involvement in the music program runs far beyond classroom participation.

“Kate will compose and accompany for anyone and everyone. She just can’t say no,” Koelsch said. “For my senior recital alone, in which she accompanied me, she set up six rehearsals within a month. If she has that kind of dedication for my senior recital, then you can only imagine the kind of drive she has in her own pursuits.”

Kerry Marsh, director of vocal jazz and arranging at Sac State, said Kate Janzen is musically flexible, which enables her to be a fairly aggressive and patient self-marketer. He said these are the skills necessary to become successful in the music industry. “Her ability to navigate seamlessly through both the classical and jazz academic worlds has created a lot of opportunities for her that have inspired much of her success,” Marsh said.

Kate Janzen said because of her dedication to music, her health sometimes takes a dive.

Kate Janzen said when she is composing, she sometimes forgets to eat and sleep.

She said it takes her about an hour to warm up her brain for composing.

“For the first hour of composing, I sit thinking and twiddling with things and then after that hour, my juices normally start flowing and I just start writing up a storm,” Kate Janzen said. “I’ll get up to go the bathroom and sit back down to work. Then, later, I’ll have to go to the bathroom again. When I look at the clock I realize it’s six hours later.”

Jan Janzen, her mother, said she has made many observations about her daughter and her immersion with music.

“I don’t think that its the music that overwhelms her, but more the obligations apart from the music itself,” Jan Janzen said. “She loves the music, loves composing and loves playing, but her organizational skills and prioritizing are a bit underdeveloped.”

Kate Janzen said these drawbacks in her career path do not scare her away in the least.

“Although sometimes I falter, I really wouldn’t have it any other way because this experience has made me the caliber of a musician that I am today,” Kate Janzen said.

Marsh said during Kate Janzen’s time in the music department at Sac State, she has written nearly 25 jazz pieces, a substantial amount not even including her classical compositions.

“That’s a strong output, especially considering the intense and detailed nature of some of those pieces,” Marsh said. “Her senior jazz arranging recital, on which she conducted, sang and played piano, was written at the level of a Master’s (program) recital, in my opinion.” Koelsch said most recently, Kate Janzen has been awarded a Downbeat Award from Downbeat magazine.

Kate Janzen said each year the magazine holds a competition in which students and professors can enter in musical works. Kate Janzen said she is excited to have a Downbeat to put on her resume because it does not go unnoticed by the jazz community.

“All the connections she’s made here are definitely going to benefit her in the future. The teachers here are all ready to hire her,” Koelsch said.

Marsh said he expects Kate to be very successful in her endeavors.

“I’m looking forward to having Kate as a colleague throughout the rest of both of our careers,” Marsh said.

Katrina Tupper can be reached at [email protected]