Jenifer Yáñez Villahermosa

Spain / the Netherlands

Jenifer (she/her) is a professional pianist and improviser based in Groningen (NL). Since 2015, she’s been a main cast member and resident pianist of the English-speaking group Stranger Things Have Happened (STHH). Passionate about bringing improv into higher education one-university-at-a-time, she’s led workshops in Spain, Croatia, the Netherlands, and the United States. Currently, she teaches a variety of improv-based subjects at the Prins Claus Conservatorium and the University of Groningen. In her “free” time, she’s working on a PhD exploring how improvisational theatre can enhance musicians' expressiveness (spoiler: it can!). In February 2024, she founded the STHH Improv Academy, where experienced improvisers can dive into thematic courses and develop specific skills. Her sessions are all about presence, play, and self-reflection, creating a safe space to explore and challenge unconscious patterns, while discovering new ways to heighten the fun for both players and audience.