Jean Inaba worked at National Public Radio for over sixteen years, beginning in 1986, serving as associate music producer for Performance Today. When a major company reorganization eliminated her division in 2002 at NPR, she made a career change. She continues in broadcasting as a part-time announcer for WETA, an NPR member station. Inaba describes her work at Performance Today as demanding and stressful, a position that required total committment. Even so, she feels the time there played an important part in her professional growth and also enhanced her knowledge and appreciation of concert music.

A music minor in college, she is a talented string performer who played in the Walla Walla Symphony as an undergraduate. Now living in the Washington, D.C. area, she has played professionally with four different orchestras. Inaba is currently in her fourteenth season (2002-03) as a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

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