Meet April Kerr

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful April Kerr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

April, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

It wasn’t really until I moved to Spain to pursue my Masters in Music, that I found my confidence.
However, I believe that confidence and self esteem are ever changing and growing. Some days are better than others and that’s okay. While I was in Spain, I was surrounded by so many incredible classmates that lifted me up and embraced the person I was becoming. The culture in Europe was so inviting that I felt like I could be the best version of myself. I learned something very important from that experience; Not only was I finally in a place where I felt ready to accept myself and start exploring who I could be, but I was surrounding myself with people who loved me unconditionally. Having people in your life that want to only see you happy and will celebrate the real you is incredibly important. And when you find those people, hold onto them and give them back the same love that they are able to provide you.
I believe that each person’s uniqueness is what brings variety into life. If I were to hold back parts of myself, I don’t think I would be able to create the way that I do or have the potential to create what is to come. That being said, confidence comes in waves. There are good and bad days, weeks, or even months. But being able to go through that experience and really know what it feels like to find myself, inspires me everyday to attain that confidence.

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Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I come from a growing town in Salt Lake City, Utah called Herriman. I grew up in a very musical family and was heavily involved in musical theatre and sports. Around the age of 14 I started to write songs that, looking back were pretty corny and simple, but more importantly were the start of my composer career. Since then, I have recorded multiple EP’s and albums of my own and produced for many other artists. I have kept up with musical theatre by performing at semi-professional theatres since the age of 18. I studied Commercial Music at Utah Valley University, where I found my passion for studio engineering, and ultimately went on to get my Masters at Berklee College of Music in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games.
After coming back from my Masters in the fall of 2023, I have primarily been working from my home studio: doing orchestration work, composing for short and feature films, still producing my own and others’ music, as well as performing in musical theatre productions here and there. I love having variety in my life and I think it will always be that way. The best part of being an artist is that it never has to be the same. I am constantly learning new skills and polishing the ones I’ve taken on in the past. Later this year, I will be premiering 2 new musicals that I orchestrated. That is a very new part of my career and I can’t wait to see what other ideas and opportunities will come from it.

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There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

A willingness to take criticism, kindness, and adaptability are the three skills I have been working the most hard at throughout my career.
Criticism almost always comes with creativity. Most of the projects I take on include a client or boss that is expecting a certain outcome. There have been times when I love what I have created and it wasn’t exactly what the employer was looking for, because it can be very easy to get lost in my work. But at the end of the day, taking notes with a true understanding of what needs to be changed has been key to developing my work ethic, and I believe this is in part why people choose to work with me.
Kindness should be a given, but it gets pushed aside far too often. When you treat those around you with respect and kindness, not only does it inspire people to want to work with you, but it also creates a more enjoyable work environment. Although, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean you should let people walk all over you. The difference between being a push over and a kind person is in knowing your worth and kindly setting boundaries with your peers.
Finally, adaptability: the one that tests me daily. The world is constantly changing, and so does its technology. Once I feel I have mastered a certain software, out comes another. Whether I am facing newer and better software, or a job requiring me to know software that I’m not quite familiar with, it’s important to keep my knowledge growing and expanding.

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What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words how incredible my parents are. They are very artistic and insanely talented. Both of them have an incredible understanding of the arts, and they helped me see my potential from a very young age. Not only have they always been the most supportive of my dreams, but they are always honest with where I’m at and help me to be better, with kindness and with love. I believe they see more potential in me than I do in myself, which constantly inspires me and reminds me of what I can achieve. I feel pretty lucky to have parents that are like friends. I love them and want to publicly say a giant “thank you” for everything they have done for me.

Contact Info:

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Image Credits

Berklee College of Music, Valencia Photography Team
Aida Redzepagic
Shabnam J. Kermani
Nathan Bieber
Tia Wisco
Chelsea Francis
Lidia Pozo

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