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 completed

• Master of Music (Music Education)

       Choral Conducting Studies with Dr. Patrick Gardner

• Bachelor of Arts (Music Education)

       NJ Teaching Certificate: 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 Theatre productions - pit musician/conductor, 2019-

School choral ensemble accompanist, 2019-

Church sub (organ, piano, choir direction), 2019-

​​Jazz/Pop/Broadway pianist; cocktail & ensemble, 2019-

​Band/Chorus/Orchestra/Marching Band/Jazz Ensemble adjudicator/clinician, 2019-

Teacher
Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)  

Co-adjunct Supervisor of  Music Education student teachers, Mason Gross School of the Arts 2019-2022

MGSA student teaching advisor, 2013

Cooperating teacher for student teachers, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2013

National Association for Music Education (NAfME) All-Eastern Conference dissertation research presenter, 2011

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

Festivals of Music Host, 2012-2015

 School District of the Chathams  (Chatham, New Jersey) 1988-2018 (retired 7/1/2018)
District Supervisor of Fine & Performing Arts and Family/Consumer Science - 2015-2018
District Supervisor of Fine & 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), General Music (Middle School & Kindergarten),
Music Theory/Technology, Piano, Independent Studies in Composition - 1988-2008

Bartle School (Highland Park, New Jersey) 1986-1988
Grades 3-7 General Music Teacher/Choral Director

AT&T Communications (Basking Ridge & Morristown, New Jersey) - 1984-1986
Support & Training Division

Shore Regional High School (West Long Branch, New Jersey) - 1982-1984
Curricular Band/Choir Director 
Extracurricular Marching Band Director
 
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Freelance Musician (Piano, Accordion, Organ, Voice)

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

Brass Tacks Jazz Orchestra (Manahawkin, NJ) pianist, 2022 -
Toms River Jazz Ensemble (Toms River, NJ) pianist, 2019 -

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

Feed the Soul: A Community Concert (Red Bank, NJ) Creative OPERAtions (pianist/Music Director), 2022
Ocean Grove Auditorium Virtual Choir (Ocean Grove, NJ) alto, 2021
Garden State Philharmonic Choir (Toms River NJ) alto, 2019
True North presents Michael W. Smith, Honoring Freedom at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.) alto, 2019
Monmouth Symphony Orchestra (Holmdel, NJ) Threepenny Suite (guest accordionist), 2019

Musical Theatre
9 to 5 - Algonquin Arts Theatre (Music Director, Conductor/keyboard), 2026

White Christmas - Algonquin Arts Theatre (Music Director, Conductor/keyboard), 2025

The Wizard of Oz - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard/synth), 2025

Fiddler on the Roof - Kelsey Theatre (accordion), 2025

Chicago (keyboard/accordion), 2025

Footloose - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard), 2025

Mean Girls (keyboard), 2025

White Christmas - Algonquin Arts Theatre (Music Director, Conductor/keyboard), 2024

Fiddler on the Roof - Axelrod Performing Arts Center (accordion), 2024

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard), 2024

Cats - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard), 2024

Little Shop of Horrors - Broadway version (keyboard), 2024

Fiddler on the Roof - Algonquin Arts Theatre (accordion), 2024

Mamma Mia (keyboard), 2024

Into the Woods  (keyboard/synth), 2024

Beauty & the Beast  (keyboard/synth), 2024
Little Shop of Horrors - Off-Broadway version (keyboard), 2024

Elf - Algonquin Arts Theatre (Music Director, Conductor/keyboard), 2023
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard), 2023
Avenue Q - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard), 2023

Kiss Me, Kate - Grunin Center for the Performing Arts (keyboard/strings), 2023
Hello, Dolly - Algonquin Arts Theatre (piano/accordion), 2023
Mamma Mia (Conductor/keyboard), 2023
Mamma Mia (keyboard), 2023
Spamalot (keyboard/strings), 2023
Cabaret  - Brook Arts Center (accordion), 2023
A Christmas Story - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboard/harp), 2022
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Grunin Center for the Performing Arts (keyboard/strings), 2022
Something Rotten - Premier Theatre Company (keyboard), 2022
Grease (Conductor/piano), 2022
The Sound of Music (keyboard/strings), 2022
Clue Onstage (piano), 2021
The Addams Family (keyboard/accordion), 2021
Fiddler on the Roof (accordion) 2019
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (keyboard/multi reed book), 2019
Mamma Mia - Algonquin Arts Theatre (keyboards), 2019

Clinician/Adjudicator
Trills & Thrills  (Band/Chorus/Orchestra/Jazz Band adjudicator), 2019-
Performing Arts Consultants ( (Band/Chorus/Orchestra/Jazz Band/Marching Band adjudicator & clinician), 2019-

• Festivals at Sea 

• Virginia International Music Festival (Norfolk, VA)

• Big Apple Classic Music Festival (NYC, NY)

Music In The Parks (Band/Chorus/Orchestra/Jazz Band/adjudicator), 2025-

Elefante Music - Professional Development programs for teachers (clinician), 2019-

• Clinician:  Tales From the Pit: If you want to be the pro to call, you've got to learn the protocol

• Clinician: Just My Imagination : Using imagery & conducting strategies to address intonation issues within your performing group

• Clinician: Let Me 'Edutain' You: The Art of Educating while Entertaining

• Clinician: The 6-12 Choral Classroom: Practical ideas to make your choral classroom an efficient, productive, positive, and musical learning space

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 & 2016
Mason Gross School of the Arts - guest lecturer 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 (ACDA) SSAA Reading session clinician, 2009

SELECTED HONORS, AWARDS, CONDUCTING EXPERIENCES
2023 Basie Award Nominee
2014 Trinity Church (NYC) Featured Choir Performance
2014, 2011, 2008 Saint Patrick's Cathedral Featured Choir Performances (main altar)
2013 Grammy Foundation National Music Educator Award, Quarterfinalist
2013 Virginia Beach (VA) Music Festival; Superior/Gold ratings
2000-2012 Lincoln Center/Carnegie Hall annual performances; Chatham HS Choral Ensembles
2011 Gettysburg, PA Music Festival; Superior/Gold ratings
2009 Virginia Beach, VA Music Festival; Superior/Gold Ratings
2009 Central Jersey Music Educators' Association SSAA Chorus Guest Conductor
2008-2009 Tim Janis Celebrate America specials for Public Television (PBS)
2007 North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) SSAA Chorus Guest Conductor
2004-2007 Messiah Sing-In Guest Conductor (National Chorale - Lincoln Center, NY)
1997, 2001, 2005 Disney EPCOT performances (SSAA a cappella choir selected to perform in the American Experience Rotunda)
2004  Mason Gross School of the Arts Masters student representative (faculty-selected) for Rutgers University Commencement
2001 Commercial Concept Design Winner ($10,000 grant), Oscar Meyer Corporation
2001 NJ All-State Jazz Choir Conductor
2000-2014 - consistent superior/gold ratings in adjudicated choral festival performances
1995 Morris-Uniorn Jointure Commission Service Award recipient
1995 North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) SSA Junior Treble Choir guest conductor
1994 North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) SATB Junior Mixed Choir accompanist
1992  North Jersey School Music Association (NJSMA) SATB Junior Mixed Choir conductor
1990-1995 Morris-Union Jointure Commission grade 6-8 Choir conductor
Several Who's Who in American Education Teacher Nominations

Published Choral Composer/Arranger

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 musician
Skilled accompanist/collaborative pianist
RMS/MainStage/Keyboard Tek platforms
Successful program development, membership recruitment, and retention of performing ensemble membership
Confident, innovative, and passionate conductor
Clever and creative concert programming
Tasteful choreographer for choral ensembles
Application of American Sign Language (ASL) to choral performances
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 
CPR/AED/EpiPen certified (renewed annually)
Lifelong learner

REFERENCES provided upon request
 

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