Laura Childress Kerr (classical and suzuki piano, theory)

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Mrs. Kerr gives a private recital in Villanova

Laura Kerr cherishes her teaching career of 30+ years and believes that becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened in her development as an educator.  Mother of Harvey (18) and Mary Agnes (12), Laura is a frequent adjudicator for local festivals and competitions and has given numerous solo recitals in Philadelphia and Boston.  Her students have gone on to schools of their choice and have successfully pursued careers in everything from music to medicine.   “Ms. Laura” has been praised for her vocal talents; she sings and plays the piano frequently for Masses and School Concerts at her church, Saint Katharine of Siena Parish in Wayne where she is the Organist and Choir Director. When she isn’t teaching she can be found practicing the organ, gardening or making french macarons with her daughter Mary Agnes for their family brand macKERRons.

Education: BA Music Tufts University (minor in chemical engineering), MM Piano Performance Temple University.  Suzuki teacher training, Dîplome American Conservatory in Fontainebleau.  Piano studies with Janet Woods, Arlene Cole, Darryl Rosenberg, Charles Abramovic, Alexander Fiorillo (pupil of Horowitz), Philippe Bianconi, Frédéric Augessy, Nöel Lee and Willis A Stevens.  Organ studies with Gordon Turk.  Memberships:  American Guild of Organists, The Association of Church Musicians in Philadelphia (ACMP), Music Teachers National Association, Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Philadephia Music Teachers Association, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Musical Coterie of Wayne. 

Live recording of Laura performing Jeux d’eau by Ravel at the Château de Fontainebleau

Joseph Kerr (classical and jazz piano, composition)

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Joe received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Trinity University where he studied composition with Dr. William Thornton and piano with Karl Leifheit. In France he studied with Nadia Boulanger at the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau and is now the program director of that famed institution. From 1995 to 2007 Kerr was a faculty member at the DillerQuaile School of Music in New York City. He has written songs for BBC radio, National Lampoon and Sesame Street. Kerr is a founding member of The Western Caravan, New York’s leading western swing orchestra.  He is also a member of the Biograph Players, an ensemble that plays music for classic silent movies.