Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Kennedy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My most meaningful project was a concert I curated titled From Gershwin to Sondheim: Celebrating Jewish Broadway Composers. For this project I chose music composed by notable Broadway Composers which I played on my trumpet with piano accompaniment. I graduated from Broward College in Florida in 2020. Then, in 2024, I graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Florida with a B.A. in Music, Instrumental Performance. My passion is to play and compose music that inspires. After graduation, I did an apprenticeship with a former music professor from Broward College, Myrna Meeroff. In the apprenticeship, I was a guest artist musician in Ms. Meeroff’s concerts of the South Florida Chamber Ensemble. I learned much valuable information from Ms. Meeroff, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. After this, I applied for the 2023 Broward County Cultural Division Emerging Artist Grant for musicians and I got it! The events that followed changed my life in a positive way, and I am also thankful for this opportunity. In the Music program at Nova Southeastern University I took courses that sparked my interest in Broadway composers. The courses were American Theater; Theater Arts; Popular Music of Western Culture; Trumpet instruction in Broadway, jazz, and classical music; and Music of World Cultures. At Broward College I learned about jazz music, the history of jazz, and classical music. I also played in Jazz ensembles four semesters. I saw a 12 part documentary on the history of American jazz and read the text of the documentary. In addition, I saw the film titled Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. This is a documentary about major Jewish Broadway composers. I chose compositions by George Gershwin, Irving Belin, Jerome Kern, Leonard Bernstein, Steven Sondheim, and more. I also wrote narratives about the origin of the songs I was playing, the scenes and Broadway shows the songs were from, and the lives of the composers. I began to play my concerts at libraries, parks, rehab centers and community centers. I received very positive feedback from my audiences, and now I am also playing many genres of music at the same venues and at restaurants. I manage my own business. I am living my dream and pursuing my passion! At first, it was challenging going from a university setting to playing in public venues. I made mistakes which turned into great learning experiences. One of these was learning to handle mistakes in front of the audience by being patient with myself and giving myself positive feedback for everything I was doing right. Another skill I learned was to communicate and connect with my audience by interacting with the them in between songs, after the performance and during breaks. Since I had a childhood condition that started at 12 and ended at at 24, I developed post traumatic stress and had to overcome PTS, so that I could play in public venues and pursue my passion. For me, this was a necessity. I know the healing power power of music from having experienced it in my life. Tools that helped me overcome my post traumatic stress were: prayer, meditation, stretching, nature walks, deep breathing, a healthy diet, fellowship with friends and mentors, time with my supportive family, doing service in my community, playing my trumpet and composing music. I am looking forward to the exciting events that will happen next!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
It seems that I answered most of these questions in the first prompt. I am Emily Isabel Kennedy, Musician and composer. My website is trumpetgirlofsouthflorida.com. There you can find my bio, shows, videos and pictures .My email is [email protected]
On my website, you can find all my information, including bio, shows, photos, and videos. I play trumpet, piano, and guitar. I play different genres of music: Broadway; different subgenres of jazz like Latin, Brazilian, and American; blues; pop; and some classical and rock. I am available for concerts and private parties. I play with piano accompanist, Patrice Risi.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I had convulsions from ages 12 – 24. I had to stop all my activities because of this illness. I was devastated. I never dreamed I would eventually graduate from college or that I would become a professional musician. My advice to people having physical or emotional challenges which get in the way of them pursuing their dreams is to have faith, keep trying, and never give up!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is feeling that I can contribute something valuable and personal to my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trumpetgirlofsouthflorida.com
- Instagram: @trumpets96
Image Credits
Emily Kennedy
Barbara Kennedy