Born in Indianapolis, Jennifer Gallegos began  playing flute with a group of lively musicians  in  her family's church. She learned new music  playing by ear, harmonizing and improvising.  Her formal training began  under  Loretta  Contino at Jordan School of the Arts at  Butler  University at age 11, and went on to  study with  Alice Akins at the Center for  Performing Arts in  Indianapolis. Gallegos  studied under Kyril and  Rebecca Maag at the College-Conservatory of  Music at the University of Cincinnati (1987-1990) and earned her Masters Certification in Kodály Music from New York University in 2001.

Since 1990 Gallegos has maintained a busy career as a freelance musician throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Her versatility at a wide range of styles and perpetual discovery of new genres has led the way to play for Grammy Award Winner Nestor Torres, Carol Wincenc, Michel Debost, and Gato Barbieri. Recent recordings of Gallegos can be heard on El Viajero (2006), Dance of the Brujas (2008), and 500 Years (2010). She has performed throughout the United States with numerous orchestras, chamber ensembles, jazz groups and theatre orchestras, and in 2002 began touring in the Caribbean with Latin fusion bands and as a soloist.

Gallegos is the founder of with Chica Fluta Ensemble, a group of bass, alto and transverse flutists performing at local events; she also tours and performs with harpist Laura Hiner-Robinson, and One Love Orchestra. In 2014 Gallegos joined the Indiana Wind Symphony, the resident ensemble at The Palladium in Carmel, Indiana. She maintains an active flute studio, working with students of all ages and levels, and is Adjunct Flute Specialist at Carmel High School and Riverside Junior High. Gallegos also leads flute clinics through Conn-Selmer Education Program at local middle schools and high schools.