Kemp Jernigan ('12)

Bachelor of Music, Oboe Performance

Why Kemp Chose Hartt

There were many reasons I chose to come to Hartt. Some could be the chance to work with the incredibly talented faculty, or the many opportunities to play great music, but the main reason was that it felt like home. My parents and I all agreed that the feeling we get here at Hartt can't compare to anywhere else. I really feel people here strongly care about my well-being and help me everyday to strive towards becoming a better musician and person.

Why Dale Jernigan chose Hartt

Kemp has always been told that for a musician, the most important thing in choosing a college is the teacher. With a perfect match, everything else would fall into place. But as a parent I was also concerned with a school's safety and support system. We both needed that perfect match. We found that at The Hartt School. After Kemp met Mr. Lucarelli, he knew what an amazing opportunity he would have by studying oboe with him. As a parent I felt it was important to trust Kemp's instincts and honor his choice. But he would be a long way away from his hometown in Alabama.  Once I met the friendly, supportive staff, I was put at ease. During those first few months I had many "emergency" calls to Lynn [Johnson] and Erin [Arrison] needing reassurance! Any questions or concerns were quickly answered. I never worried for a minute about his well being because these people really care. Now Kemp is challenged, thriving and progressing at an amazing pace. He looks forward to every class with Mr. Lucarelli. And the staff are still there if I need them. I have to admit that it's still difficult when I wave goodbye at the airport, knowing he's so far away from home. But I truly believe he's in the right hands.