The Arts are alive and well in St. Bernard Parish thanks in large part to outstanding music teacher, Kenny Kerth! Each year Chalmette High School kick starts the Christmas season with their variety show produced by Kerth.  It’s a collaborative effort between the music, dance, theatre, audio/visual tech, culinary, and ambassador programs at Chalmette High School. The show begins the first week of December and this year’s theme is Christmas Through the Ages.

Every year, more than 200 students get hands on experience working with the production, and Kerth is most proud of the fact that all of the songs, scripts and set design are all written, performed and done by the students.

Talented in his own right, Kerth is a professional trumpet player who leads the Kenny Kerth Jass band and has won multiple awards including, Best of the Beat Awards as a member of the Bucktown All-Stars. He has performed with the Imagination Movers on the Disney Channel. In addition, he has been a voting member for the Grammy Awards of The Recording Academy since 2008.

Kenny has been teaching in St. Bernard since 1988. He started his career in special education before becoming the band director for Chalmette Middle School. Later, he moved to Chalmette High and is now teaching the Talented Music Program.

Kerth holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Business and Music Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of New Orleans.

Kudos to Mr. Kerth for his devotion to the students and keeping music education alive!