Jerilyn Paolini - Musical Biography

Jerilyn Paolini has been a member of ETSU's adjunct piano faculty since 2001. She teaches applied and class piano, and she directs ETSU's Summer Piano Camp. Jeri regularly collaborates with fellow faculty members, visiting guest artists, and ETSU music majors. Paolini also holds the staff position of pianist at the Jonesborough Presbyterian Church in Jonesborough, TN. She served two biennium as president of the Appalachian Music Teachers Association, and was awarded AMTA's Teacher of the Year in 2001. Paolini taught Suzuki piano at Suzuki Talent Education of Appalachia in Kingsport, TN, from 2001-2013, and held the position of principal keyboard player of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra from 1995-2005.

Prior to coming to Johnson City, Jerilyn Paolini was a staff accompanist at the Juilliard School from 1980-1995, while also teaching in New York area music schools. The New York Times reviewed her performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as "a splendid pianist, capable of creating an indelible mood with just a couple of chords." Paolini holds undergraduate and graduate performance degrees from Southern Illinois University and the University of Texas. Her teachers have included Ruth Slenczynska, Danielle Martin, David Garvey (collaborative piano), and Shelia Keats (Suzuki pedagogy).