1182 Metcalf St.

North Bay, ON  P1B 2R4

705 475-9992

Jessica’s piano career began early in her life around the age of 6.  She completed her Grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music piano examination when she was seventeen under the direction of Susan Nicholson.  She went on to major in music performance at FaithWay Baptist College of Canada where she studied piano under Melissa (Kember) Leveille and voice under Dr. Melissa Baker. Jessica graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003, and won the Academic award in 2002.  In 2009 she obtained her ARCT (Royal Conservatory of Music) in piano performance with Honours while studying with Elsa Tafel. Jessica continues to attend professional development seminars yearly, and is always on the lookout for new teaching ideas on the internet.

Jessica’s musical experience is vast and varied.  She has been a church pianist since the age of 12 and enjoys playing both the piano and organ in church.  She sang in a 70+ member choir while in College (alto and soprano), second soprano in a college trio, and alto and first soprano in the college ensemble.  She toured two summers while in college in British Columbia, Ontario, and the Northern USA.  Jessica began teaching piano lessons at the age of 14.  She continued teaching throughout college, teaching adults and children of all levels.  Jessica taught on the music faculty of FaithWay Baptist College of Canada from 2003-2006, and she taught the applied voice course at Nipissing University from 2007-2012, all the while maintaining her own private studio of anywhere from 45-65 students.  

Jessica loves being involved in community music groups.  She was the rehearsal accompanist for several musical theatre productions including Suessical the Musical, Fiddler On the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, The Prince of Egypt, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.  She sang two seasons with the Near North Voices, including a collaborative concert with the Elmer Isler Singers, and she also spent two seasons as the collaborative pianist with the Rapport Singers.

J. Brooks Academy of Music was founded by Jessica in July 2010.  After nearly 10 years of teaching out of her home, in schools, and in other private lesson studios, Jessica decided to open her own music lesson Academy.  She started the first fall term of lessons with herself teaching piano and voice, another piano teacher, and a woodwind teacher.  The Academy quickly grew, and in 2011 she added more studio space, a music book store, and more teachers! At it’s peak the Academy had 12 private lesson teachers, the Music Pups music program, Wunderkeys preschool piano program, the Bel-Melodies children’s choir, a music book store, and more!  After 5 very successful years of owning and operating a multi-teacher Music Academy, and upon the birth of her beautiful daughter, Jessica made the decision to close her studio.  She moved her lessons to her home studio where she  continues to offer quality music education, while also being a stay at home Mother.

Jessica has won numerous music awards including highest mark awards in the Kiwanis Festival of Music, the Linda Rehder Kennedy award, the Amy Wilson Theory award, and other scholarships for top marks in History 1, 2, and 3, Harmony 3, Counterpoint, Analysis, and Pedagogy.   Jessica is a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association.   Jessica married Kendall Wadley on July 13, 2013, and they are happily enjoying life together with their new daughter :).