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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.
Keyboard Faculty
Xun Pan, Department Chair
Piano b. Tianjin, China
B.A., Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing
M.M., Syracuse University
D.M.A., Rutgers UniversityWinner of numerous international piano competitions, Dr. Pan has presented highly acclaimed solo performances worldwide from Carnegie Hall to China's Beijing Concert Hall. He is also a noted chamber musician performing as pianist of the Newstead Trio, a resident trio of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, which records on the Prince Label. Dr. Pan has been served as a judge in several piano competitions includes "Frinna Awerbuch" International Piano Competition in New York and International Piano Competition Theodor Leschetizky in Taiwan. Dr. Pan has been a faculty member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music since 1994, and a visiting professor of China Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
John Couch
Piano
b. Mt. Forest, Ontario, Canada
Artist Diploma, University of Toronto School of Music
M.M., Indiana University
D.M.A., Catholic University of AmericaJohn Couch served on the faculty of Bloomsberg University and has presented master classes at Pennsylvania State University, Bucknell University, West Chester University and Mansfield University. His extensive performance experience includes solo, chamber and orchestral appearances in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., as well as recording projects, which have aired on PBS. As a lecturer, Dr. Couch has presented several pedagogical and performance related articles in addition to classroom instruction in music history, music theory, ear-training and counterpoint. Dr. Couch joined the faculty at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in 2001.
Julia I
Piano
b. Taiwan
B.M. University of Southern California
M.M. University of Southern California
D.M.A. University of Southern CaliforniaDr. Julia I began her piano study at age four in her native country Taiwan, where she won numerous piano competitions and appeared as concerto soloist with several well-known orchestras. She moved to the United States in 1986 and began studying with Professor John Perry at the R. D. Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. In 1988, Dr. I won first prize in the Young Keyboard Artists Association Western Regional Piano Competition, the Joseph Fisch Piano Competition, and the Joanna Hodges Piano Competition Brahms Division. After winning the prestigious Bronislaw Kaper Awards in 1990, she gave her debut recital in Taipei, Taiwan. In 1991, she was invited to perform Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, K.453, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and in August of 1997, she collaborated in a duo concert with violinist Shlomo Mintz in Taiwan. In 1998, she performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 in G Major with the National Symphony Orchestra for the President of Taiwan at the Presidential Palace. The performance was broadcast on national television. In recently years Dr. I has made recital and concerto appearances in the United States, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Austria, Holland, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and conducted piano master classes throughout Taiwan, Singapore and China. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California with Prof. John Perry in 2002. While residing in Michigan from 2002-2005, Dr. I appeared frequently as soloist and in chamber music at the DIA "Brunch with Bach" Series, DIA "Gallery Serenade" series, Tuesday Musicale, Scarab Chamber Music Club, and the Schoolcraft Virtuoso Concert Series. Dr. I also taught as a piano faculty at Wayne State University and was the assistant director/coordinator at Schoolcraft College Piano Academy in Michigan.
Rosemary Siegrist
Piano, Accompanist
b. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
B.A. in Piano Performance and Business Administration, Eastern Mennonite University
Pianist Rosemary Siegrist studied at the Academy before earning a bachelor's degree in piano performance and business administration from Eastern Mennonite University. She served on the faculty of the Shenandoah Valley's preparatory music division in Virginia and she has been a private studio teacher Ms. Siegrist is an active church organist and pianist, currently serving at Landis Valley Mennonite Church. She also is artistic director of the Mennonite Children's Choir of Lancaster Ms. Siegrist joined the Pennsylvania Academy of Music faculty in 2003.Jody Norton
Piano, Accompanist
b. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
B.M. Manhattan School of Music
M.A. Hunter CollegeJody Norton, piano, studied at the Peabody Institute, the Manhattan School of Music and Hunter College of the City University of New York. She studied under the mentorship of the distinguished pianist, Sonia Vargas. A native of Lancaster, Ms. Norton has held recitals in the United States and the Dominican Republic, has been involved as an accompanist for musical theater in New York City, and has served as an instrumental accompanist at the Diller-Quaile School of Music in New York City. Ms. Norton was also accompanist at the Manhattan School of Music Prep Division and taught at the Bloomingdale House of Music in New York City from 1992-1995. Ms. Norton also serves as the accompanist for the Academy's Children's Choir. She joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in 1995.
Frances Veri
Piano, Duo-Piano b. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
B.S., The Juilliard School
M.S., The Juilliard SchoolAt 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 in 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.
Michael Jamanis
Duo-Piano
b. Concord, New Hampshire
B.S, The Juilliard School
M.S., The Juilliard SchoolAt 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.
Mark Huber
Jazz piano
b. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
B.M., Magna Cum Laude, Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA)Jazz pianist Mark Huber is a Lancaster native who started his career in classical piano, winning the Westminster College's concert competition while a student and performing the Mendelssohn G Minor Concerto as a result. He has collaborated with many top jazz artists in the mid-Atlantic region and has been a jazz soloist with the Lancaster and Delaware Symphony Orchestras. He has performed at the Mellon, Rehoboth Beach, Berks and Downtown Lancaster jazz festivals and has done extensive research into the "Great American Songbook," making him in constant demand with jazz vocalists for his ability to interpret standards. Mr. Huber's style and technical facility is a result of a fusion of influences – a blending of his familiarity with so-called classical composers such as Bach and Chopin with years of "on-the-job training" as a pianist for instrumentalists and vocalists. Mr. Huber has 25 years of private teaching experience and is the staff pianist at the American Music Theatre.
Simon Andrews
Harpsichord
b. Croydon, England
B.A. Christ Church, Oxford, England
B.Mus. in composition, Christ Church, Oxford
M.A. Christ Church, Oxford, England
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley>Educated at Chichester Cathedral Choir School, and Christ Church, Oxford, Simon Andrews pursued composition and piano accompaniment studies at the Royal Academy of Music. Winner of the 1985 Benjamin Britten Composition Prize, Dr. Andrews's compositions have been performed throughout the United States and England, France, China and Zambia and broadcast on BBC Radio. In addition to his composition activities, Dr. Andrews has been active as a conductor of opera on both coasts, Music Director of the Harrisburg Choral Society, and involved in education as assistant professor of music and director of choral ensembles at Franklin & Marshall College. He joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in 2001.
