Education
Jamila received a B.M. in Piano Performance from Indiana University. She then went on to acquire a M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Central Florida and a D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Miami.
Performance and Teaching Experience
Jamila has performed as a solo and chamber musician in summer festivals, including the Banff Centre, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Mannes College, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, where she studied with Gilbert Kalish, Robert McDonald, Boris Slutsky, Marc Durand, Dawn Upshaw, and members of the Brentano and Tokyo String Quartets.
Jamila performs with members of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, and collaborates with her brother, violinist Suliman Tekalli, as the Tekalli Duo. Duo performances include the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Concert Artists Guild series in New York City, and double concerto performances with the Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra in Mexico, as well as performances at Tripoli University as American Cultural Ambassadors, partnered with the United States Embassy, in 2010. Chamber recital performances have also taken her throughout Ecuador, in the cities of Quito, Cuenca, and Loja.
As an educator, Jamila has served as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Barry University in Miami, Florida, and as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Miami and the University of Central Florida. She has led piano workshops and masterclasses at the University of South Florida and Camp Encore Coda in Sweden, ME, as well as adjudicated for the Young Musicians’ Competition at the Concurso Internacional de Música Clásica “Jóvenes Talentos” at Fronteras Musicales Abiertas in Cuenca, Ecuador. Jamila is currently the Music Director at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Bethesda, MD. She is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and Chamber Music America.
Jamila is the first prizewinner of competitions, including the Indiana Steinway Collegiate Piano Competition, Indiana University Concerto Competition, and University of Miami Concerto Competition. Distinctions include finalist of the Stravinsky International Piano Competition, Third Prize, and National Finalist of the Baldwin Piano Competition.
At Levine
Jamila joined Levine’s piano faculty in 2018 and currently serves as our Director of Merit Programs.
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
Music is a powerful vehicle for creative and personal expression. Music education helps build confidence, and in turn, encourages leadership among music lovers in performance, both in work and school. I work with students, tailoring my approach to their individual uniqueness, to help them develop their own musical voice through healthy and effective piano technique. I provide these tools to showcase their musical ideas and encourage students to be their best, whether in an audience setting or a personal one.
More About Jamila
Jamila enjoys cooking, traveling, attending live concerts, supporting the arts of all types, and fitness. Learn more about Jamila on her website.