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BARBARA KLEMP

bkjerzshore@aol.com 

 

EDUCATION

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 

  • Doctor of Musical Arts (Music Education)

    • Doctoral Dissertation: The effects of instrumental training on the music notation reading abilities of high school choral musicians 

      • Cognate area: Educational Administration 

    • NJ Supervisory Certification

  • Master of Music (Music Education)

    • Choral conducting studies with Dr. Patrick Gardner 

  • Bachelor of Arts (Music Education)

    • NJ Teaching Certificate issued - K-12 Comprehensive (Choral/Instrumental)

    • Piano studies with Kenny Barron

 

Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia)

  • Graduate Certification in Theological Studies

  • Graduate Certification in Biblical Studies

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance Musician (Piano/Accordion/Organ)

  • Musical theater productions - pit musician/conductor (various locations), 2019 -

  • School choral ensemble accompanist, 2019 -

  • Jazz pianist - cocktail & ensemble, 2019 - 

  • Substitute church choral conductor /pianist/organist, 2019 - 

 

Adjudicator

  • Trills and Thrills, Band/Chorus/Orchestra Ensemble Adjudicator, 2019 -   

  • Performing Arts Consultants, Band/Chorus/Orchestra Ensemble Adjudicator/Clinician, 2019  -  ​​

 

Teacher

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 2019 - 2022 

  • Coadjunct Supervisor of Music Education Student Teachers, Mason Gross School of the Arts

 

School District of the Chathams (Chatham, NJ), 1988-2018 (retired 7/1/2018) 

  • District Supervisor of Fine & Performing Arts and Family/Consumer Science, 2015–2018

  • District Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts, 2014-2015 

  • District Supervisor of Performing Arts, 2011-2014 

  • District Music Department Coordinator, 2009-2011 

  • High School Choral Director, 1997-2014

  • Middle School Choral Director, 1988-2000 

  • Teacher of Instrumental Lessons (grades 4-8 brass, woodwinds, percussion), Middle School General Music, Kindergarten Music, Music Theory/Technology, Piano, Independent Studies in Composition, 1988-2008 

  • Extracurricular sponsorship of students for County, Regional, All-State, All-Eastern, National, ACDA, and Carnegie Hall Honors Choral Ensembles 

  • Extracurricular School Musical Direction (Choral, Instrumental, Dramatic, Choreography)

  • Extracurricular Marching Band Assistant Director, 1989-1992 

 

 Bartle School (Highland Park, NJ) 1986-1988

  • Grades 3-7 General Music Teacher/Choral Director 

 

AT&T Communications (Basking Ridge and Morristown, NJ) 1984-86

  • Support and Training Division 

 

Shore Regional High School (West Long Branch, NJ) 1982-84 

  • Curricular Band/Choir Director; Instrumental Lesson teacher 

  • Extracurricular Marching Band Director 

 

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 

  • Freelance Musician (Piano/Accordion/Organ) 

    • Brass Tacks Jazz Orchestra (Manahawkin, NJ) pianist, 2022-

    • Toms River Jazz Band (Toms River, NJ) pianist, 2019 - 

      • For Lew: A Trumpeter's Remembrance (Lew Soloff Tribute) -  pianist , 2022 ​

    • Belmar Presbyterian Church (Belmar, NJ) summer organist/pianist, 2023

    • Kiss Me, Kate - Grunin Center for the Performing Arts (keyboard/strings), 2023

    • Hello, Dolly - Algonquin Theater (piano/celeste), 2023

    • Mamma Mia (conductor/keyboard 1), 2023

    • Spamalot (keyboard/strings), 2023

    • Cabaret - Brook Arts Center (accordion), 2023

    • A Christmas Story - Algonquin Theater (keyboard), 2022

    • Feed the Soul: A Community Concert (Red Bank, NJ) - Creative OPERAtions (pianist/musical director), 2022

    • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  - Grunin Center for the Performing Arts (keyboard), 2022

    • Something Rotten - Premier Theatre Company (keyboard), 2022

    • Grease (piano/conductor)​, 2022

    • The Sound of Music (keyboard/strings), 2022

    • Clue Onstage (pianist), 2021

    • The Addams Family (keyboard/accordion), 2021

    •  Fiddler on the Roof (accordion), 2020

    • 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (keyboard/multi-reed book, 2019)

    • Fiddler on the Roof (accordion), 2019

    • Mamma Mia - Algonquin Theatre (keyboard), 2019

    • Monmouth Symphony Orchestra (Holmdel, NJ), Threepenny Suite (accordion), 2019

    • Ocean Grove Great Auditorium Virtual Choir, 2020

    • Garden State Philharmonic Choir (alto), 2019 

    • True North Presents Michael W. Smith, Honoring Freedom at the Kennedy Center (alto), 2019 

  • Clinician/Adjudicator

    • Trills & Thrills (Adjudicator) 2019 -

    • Performing Arts Consultants (Adjudicator), 2019 - 

      • Festivals at Sea​ 

      • Virginia International Music Festival (Norfolk, VA)

      • Big Apple Classic Music Festival (NYC, NY)

    • Elefante Music - Professional Development Programs for Teachers (clinician) 2019 - 

    • American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Collegiate Leadership Conference Clinician, 2019

    • School District of the Chathams, Professional Development Leadership, 2011-2018 

    • Summit “Hilltopper” Choral Festival Adjudicator, 2014 and 2016 

    • Mason Gross School of the Arts - Presenter for Topics in Music Education classes, 2011-2016

    • American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Board: Women’s Choirs Repertoire & Standards Chair, 2009-2011

    • American Choral Directors Association SSAA Reading Session Clinician, 2009

  • Teacher

    • Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA) Supervisor of Student Teachers, 2019 - 2022

    • MGSA Student Teaching Advisor, 2013 

    • Cooperating Teacher for Student Teaching Placements, MGSA Spring 2001, 2003, 2005, 2013 

    • National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Conference (Baltimore, MD) - Dissertation Research Presentation, 2011

    • North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) Region I Choral Festival Host, 2002-2017 

    • Festivals of Music Host, 2012-2015 

  • Published Choral Composer/Arranger

 

SELECTED HONORS, AWARDS, CONDUCTING EXPERIENCES 

  • 2014 Trinity Church (NY) Feature Choir Performance 

  • 2014, 2011, 2008; Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (NY) Feature Choir Performances 

  • 2013 Grammy Foundation National Music Educator Award, Quarter Finalist 

  • 2013 Virginia Beach (VA) Music Festival; Superior Ratings 

  • 2000-2012 Lincoln Center/Carnegie Hall annual performances; Chatham HS Choral Ensembles 

  • 2011 Gettysburg (PA) Music Festival; Superior Ratings 

  • 2009 Virginia Beach (VA) Music Festival; Superior Ratings 

  • 2009 Central Jersey Music Educators Association, SSAA Chorus Guest Conductor 

  • 2008-2009 Tim Janis Celebrate America specials for Public Television 

  • 2007 North Jersey School Music Association, SSAA Chorus Guest Conductor

  • 2004-2007 Messiah Sing-In Guest Conductor (National Chorale - Lincoln Center, NY) 

  • 1997, 2001, 2005 Disney/EPCOT performances 

  • 2004 Masters Student Representative (faculty-selected) to Rutgers University Commencement 

  • 2001 Commercial Concept Design Winner ($10,000 grant) from Oscar Meyer Corporation 

  • 2001 NJ All-State Jazz Choir Guest Conductor 

  • 2000-2014, consistent Superior ratings in Choral Festival performances 

  • 1995 Morris-Union Jointure Commission Service Award Recipient 

  • 1995 North Jersey School Music Association, SSA (Junior Chorus) Guest Conductor 

  • 1994 North Jersey School Music Association, SATB (Junior Chorus) Accompanist 

  • 1992 North Jersey School Music Association, SATB (Junior Chorus) Guest Conductor 

  • 1990-1995 Morris-Union Jointure Commission Choral Conductor (grades 6-8) 

  • Several Who’s Who in American Education/Teacher nominations

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 

  • American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) 

  • New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) 

  • American Guild of Organists (AGO)

  • New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) 

  • New Jersey Music Administrators Association (NJMAA) 

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

  • Dependable

  • Stylistically versatile

  • RMS/MainStage/KeyboardTek platforms

  • Successful program development, membership recruitment & retention 

  • Confident, innovative, and passionate conductor/teacher 

  • Clever and creative concert programmer 

  • Tasteful choreographer for choral ensembles 

  • Application of American Sign Language to choral performance  

  • Superior organizer 

  • Superior written and oral communicator 

  • Practical knowledge and application of computer skills 

  • Ethical business sense 

  • Efficient/effective management practices

  • Thrifty and responsible fiscal management of program funding 

  • CPR/AED/EpiPen Certified (renewed annually) 

  • Lifelong learner

 

REFERENCES provided upon request. 

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