Phil Norris, a native of Pennsylvania, has served as Professor of Music at University of Northwestern—St. Paul since 1993, where he has taught courses in instrumental music education, music theory, trumpet, music technology, and music history. In 2004 he received the UNW Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Norris’ music study has included Grace College (BME) Winona Lake, Indiana, Northwestern University (MM-trumpet), and University of Minnesota (DMA-trumpet). He has studied under Jerry Franks, Luther Didrickson, Vincent Cichowicz, David Baldwin and Gary Bordner (trumpet), John Paynter (band/conducting), and Arnold Jacobs (wind respiration and brass).

Norris has published over 25 band and brass pieces with Volkwein, Columbia Pictures, and David E. Smith publishers. John Paynter wrote of his music, “…absolutely superb! Such great imagination, musicianship, practicality, and general effectiveness.” Robert Page of the Cleveland Symphony Chorus said of Norris’ Psalm 90, “Wonderful festival piece.”

Crown Music Press Chicago has published his Top 50 Orchestral Audition Excerpts for Trumpet, now in its third printing and endorsed by Adolph Herseth, and his Uncommon Ceremonial Works for Trumpet, a collection of ten original works for trumpet and organ/keyboard.

In 2007 he completed an orchestration of Eric Ewazen’s Sonata for Trumpet which is available on rental from Southern Music Co. as Concerto for Trumpet. Norris has also published several brass works with Art of Sound Music and published with Triplo Press two volumes of companions to Robert Getchell’s two books of Practical Studies. In addition to music publications, he served as the Brass Space editor-writer for David E. Smith Publications Newsletter for over ten years and has published articles in the Instrumentalist magazine and the International Trumpet Guild Journal (ITG).

In 2015 Dr. Norris wrote and published a faith-based music appreciation textbook, Western Music SDG: A Concise Overview, with Kendall Hunt Publishing Company (Dubuque, IA).

Norris is an active performer in the Twin Cities including appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He frequently speaks and has published articles on wind instrument pedagogy for state, national, and international conferences, including the The Midwest Clinic: International Band and Orchestra Conference and the ITG.

Phil and his wife, Julie, have three children and three grandchildren.

Faculty member since 1993; also teaches trumpet for UNW Academy of Music

Kim Lange received her B.A. and MM degrees with an emphasis in Performance and Pedagogy from the U of M where she studied with Paul Freed. While pursuing her studies at the U of M, Kim was appointed as a teaching assistant where she taught class piano and private lessons. She was mentored in the Suzuki and Yamaha methods for teaching young children during this time.

Kim enjoys teaching students from ages 4 – adult at all levels of ability. She uses a traditional note reading approach while incorporating theory, by ear playing and improvisation skills into her teaching. Kim believes students can play beautifully from the very beginning of piano study. She encourages and challenges her students to play to their highest potential to the glory of God. She seeks to instill character qualities including humility, patience, diligence and kindness in her students.

Kim is an active member of MMTA, SPPTA and MMTF. Many of her students participate in the MMTA state contest, piano and theory exams as well as the Mozart Piano Concerto Competition where they have received honors and awards. Several of her high school students have received scholarships to college music programs and are now teaching their own students.

In addition to maintaining a private studio, Kim serves as an Instructor for the University of Northwestern – St. Paul Academy of Music since its inception in the 1990s. She is also a faculty member of the UNW Summer Piano Institute and assists her husband Richard in coordinating the Piano Institute and the UNW Solo Piano Festival.

Kim is a life-long learner and continues to attend master classes, workshops, conventions and other professional enrichment opportunities. She resides in Crystal, MN with her husband Richard.

Joyce Ramsey is a Crown College graduate with a degree in both Christian Education and Music. She has been playing piano since age 5 and has been teaching piano part-time for over 30 years. She has a passion for teaching piano & does so part-time while working full-time in an office position. Her goal is to pass on her passion for playing piano to her students, knowing that you can continue to play piano long after you are able to participate in many sports.

Joyce has taught at the Academy of Music for over 20 years. She enjoys teaching people of all ages, ranging from 5 years up through the adult ages. In addition, Joyce plays in a handbell choir & sings in her church choir. She is an active member of the Association of Professional Piano Instructors (APPI) and is able to offer her piano students opportunities such as the APPI Piano/Composition Festival, Educational Field Trips, and a sight playing challenge each year.