I’m a concert pianist and music professor. I love performing and teaching: I feel incredibly lucky that I get to do both, and that I learn so much about each from the other.
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I studied with Evelyne Brancart when I was in high school. For college I went to Oberlin, where I studied with Joseph Schwartz in the conservatory and majored in English in the college. For grad school I went to Eastman, where I did the master’s and doctoral degrees studying with Rebecca Penneys. I also got an MA in pedagogy of music theory so I could take all the fun music theory classes, including Schenker and counterpoint and composition. After Eastman I freelanced in New York City, teaching privately, as an adjunct, and accompanying in the vocal program at the Juilliard School, and then I came to the Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College, where I’ve been the piano professor since 2004. In 2019 I joined the faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp. I’ve also taught a few other places, including the Hochstein Music School, Fort Lewis College, and Paraguay on a Fulbright in the summer of 2008. Along the way I've also explored training in theatre, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and mindfulness meditation. In 2019 I took some teacher-training lessons with Madeline Bruser, learning her Art of Practicing teaching techniques. I’m currently studying Alexander Technique in the Performing Artist Teacher Training program at the Balance Arts Center in New York City, which means these days I’m constantly having hilariously profound epiphanies about things like the backs of my knees.
As a musician, I’ve always been omnivorous; there’s such a vast, rich literature for piano, and it’s inspiring and humbling that I’ll never be able to play all of it. Along with the old masters, I have always loved working with composers and playing new music, including, in the last decade or so, improvising my own. I enjoy playing both solo and chamber music. I’ve had some great opportunities to play on historical instruments, from improvising accompaniments on the harpsichord to exploring pedaling and articulation on pianos from different periods. I recorded the complete Chopin etudes on an 1841 Paris Erard piano, tuned to a historical temperament, and I recorded an album of art songs from the classical period on a Tom and Barbara Wolf fortepiano that was a copy of a Mozart-era Walter. I’ve also had some musical projects on the side, singing as an enthusiastic choir alto and spending a few years in the indie folky rock band Gettysburg Pirate Orchestra, on vocals, accordion, and occasionally electric bass. Ten years ago I taught myself ukulele, and have made sporadic appearances performing original songs on it. I often jam at home with my pre-teen drummer.
My current obsession is bringing to light music by forgotten underrepresented composers, especially women, especially the astonishing late Romantic Czech composer Agnes Tyrrell (1846-1883). I feel like all of my life and learning up till now, including my seven years practicing Chopin etudes, was leading me to this moment so I can tackle the gorgeous complexities of her music.
I am honored to serve as Judge of Elections in my local precinct, and I encourage you to vote in every local election.
You can hear me play and talk about my practice process in my very occasional podcast, Play It Again Swig.
You can find out more about me at my website, http://jocelynswigger.com