​

 

      

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 

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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

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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) 

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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.