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The faculty of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music is composed of individuals who have distinguished themselves through their varied accomplishments in the world of music. In addition, they are moved by the desire to share their musical expertise and insight with their students.
Michael Jamanis, President
b. Concord, New Hampshire
B.S., The Juilliard School
M.S., The Juilliard School
At Juilliard, pianist Michael Jamanis was a scholarship student. After earning his master's degree, he pursued further study at the Fontainebleau American School for the Arts in France under a Walter Damrosch Memorial Scholarship. He and his wife, Frances Veri, studied with Gabi and Robert Casadesus. As duo-pianists, Veri & Jamanis made their Lincoln Center debut in 1970. That was followed by an active career in touring internationally under Columbia Artist Management, recording with Philips, EMI and Connoisseur, and varied television and radio work. For the Book-of-the-Month label, the duo-pianists made the world premiere recording of the entire piano literature of George Gershwin. Veri & Jamanis received special commendation from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for excellence in cultural programming for the PBS special, "Carnival of the Animals."He and his wife founded the Pennsylvania Academy of Music with community support in 1989. He has served as president of the Academy since then.
Frances Veri, Dean
b. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
M.S., The Juilliard School
At Juilliard, pianist Frances Veri won first prize in the Mozart Concerto Competition. After earning her master's degree and teaching at the Hartt College of Music, she pursued further study at the Fontainebleau American School for the Arts in France. As duo-pianists, Veri & Jamanis, she and her husband made their Lincoln Center debut in 1970. That was followed by an active career in touring internationally under Columbia Artist Management, recording with Philips, EMI and Connoisseur, and varied television and radio work, featuring especially the works of George Gershwin. Veri & Jamanis received special commendation from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for excellence in cultural programming for the PBS special, "Carnival of the Animals." Frances Veri composed and recorded the soundtrack for a further PBS special, "Like the Wind." She and her husband founded the Pennsylvania Academy of Music with community support in 1989. She has been a faculty member and the dean of the Academy since then.
