Education
Julian has a B.M. in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Appalachian State University and an M.M. in Piano Performance from the Hartt School of Music. He has also completed studies at the Hochschule für Musik and the Musikwissenschaftliches Institut in Vienna, Austria.
Performance and Teaching Experience
Julian, whose recitals have been broadcast on Radio Europe and Voice of America, held performance contracts with NASA, the National Archives, and Columbia Artists. He has performed for 25 years with his piano duo partner, Sophia Pallas, and has recorded two CDs together. Their multimedia video of the two-piano version of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” is in the National Archives’ permanent collection. Julian is also a performing member of the Friday Morning Music Club.
For ten years before coming to Levine, Julian was the Director of Applied Music and the Preparatory Division at American University, and before that, on faculty at Limestone College in South Carolina. He is currently on the board of the Washington Music Teachers Association and regularly adjudicates for regional competitive events, as well as coordinates the WMTA judged recitals.
At Levine
Former Assistant Dean at Levine, Julian joined the faculty in 2002 and now teaches private piano instruction, music theory, and music history classes.
“Levine is a hugely resourceful institution, creating opportunities that are limited only by the imagination. Each day, I relish the privilege to share ideas with and learn from my interactions with my teacher colleagues and the exuberant students.”
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
It is my goal to provide a teaching approach that is centered on students’ individual learning modality, aspirations and sensitivities, and assists them in developing a solid technical proficiency, critical listening, effective practice habits, focused goals, and problem solving skills. Students learn how their body machine functions to contribute to the success of their sound or technique. And I strive to help students develop independent musical thinking, empowering them to achieve and discover on their own throughout life.
More About Julian
Outside of music, Julian is passionate about gardening, cooking and portrait painting.