Our Directors
Since 2007, Andrea Kemper Quinn has been Director of the Piano & Orchestra Programs at James Island Charter High School and as a music educator since 2001. The JI Piano program has grown to be one of SC's largest, most successful non-magnet programs. Her students consistently receive Superiors at the biannual SCMEA Piano Festivals and are often chosen for the SC Honors Piano Recitals. JICHS Orchestras receive high ratings at the SC Music Performance Assessment. She served as Fine Arts Chair from 2015-2023, Quinn saw enrollment increase and course offerings expand. Quinn has been the Secretary for the JICHS Board of Directors since 2021 and a finalist for Teacher of the Year several times at JICHS . Quinn is currently President of SCMEA Piano Division where our goal has been to support piano programs across SC since 2020.
In 2023, Quinn earned an Educational Leadership Specialist degree from the University of New England and a Master's Degree in Music Education in 2007 from the University of South Carolina, where she studied cello with Dr. Robert Jesselson, and was the Graduate Assistant of the USC String Project. In 2001, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Miami with a double principal in piano, where she studied with Dr. Teresa Escandón and cello with Dr. Ross Harbaugh. She graduated from Dutch Fork High School and studied orchestra with Paul Scott and Maurice Hood.
Quinn performs cello in both classical and improvisational styles in various ensembles throughout the Lowcountry. Quinn has been Guest Conductor for Berkeley and Beaufort All County MS Orchestras and was Large Cello Choir clinician for the SC Cello Choir event several times. Andrea has been a long-time member of James Island Presbyterian Church where she is a Deacon, sings with the Chancel Choir, and is their Resident Cellist. She is married to John Quinn since 2017, enjoys traveling the world with him, spending time with her nieces Sophia and Audrey, and being with her playful pups Fiona and Harley Quinn.
Ellie Jos has been the JICHS Concert Orchestra Upper String Specialist since 2018. She began playing violin at the age of 5. Her violin studies began in Charleston, South Carolina where she studied classically in addition to participating in Na Fidleiri, a Celtic fiddle group. She has a Master’s Degree in violin performance from University of Minnesota where she studied with Sally O’Reilly. Her Bachelor's Degree is from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied under Kevin Lawrence. She performed in many master classes including a chamber music master class with David Finckel, of the Emerson String Quartet. She has been the concertmistress as well as section player for the Opera Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra at UNCSA and is currently playing as a First Violinist with the South Carolina Philharmonic. She is trained in all three books of the Mark O’Connor Method as well as all ten books of the Suzuki Method and loves to teach.
Sadie Rose Nichols is just joining our team of talented master class teachers in 2019-20. We are so excited to have her join our team as our Violist in residence! She began her violin studies at the age of 3 under her mom Pam (deWall) Wiley and switched to viola at the age of 12. Mrs. Nichols earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and her Master’s degree from University of Maryland, both in Viola Performance.
Sadie has been a member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic since 2008 and is currently a freelance musician in and around the New York area. After performing for seven years as Assistant Principal Violist with the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra, Mrs. Nichols went on to perform regularly with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony, Delaware Symphony and Harrisburg Symphony.
Mrs. Nichols also plays violin, Baroque viola and Viola da gamba.
