Miss Music Nerd is a blog hosted by composer and pianist Linda Kernohan. Its aim is to be both educational and fun. Classical music is the main focus, but the blog will concern itself with all aspects of many kinds of music -- whatever strikes the host's fancy. Readers can submit questions and commission short pieces of newly composed music to be posted on the blog. This commissioning project continues Linda recently completed The 30 Days Project, an online composition project during which she wrote a short piece every day for 30 days and posted a recording online.
Linda has had works performed across the U.S. and Europe. Commissions have included Four Memoriales for viola and piano, for violist Ralph Farris of the cutting-edge string quartet ETHEL, and Now, A Wanderer, for the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus. She has also had works performed at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, the Aspen Music Festival, the Frau Musica (nova) festival in Cologne, and the Czech-American Summer Music Institute in Prague. Awards received include an Alfred Hertz Memorial Traveling Scholarship and a BMI Student Composer Award.
As a pianist, she has frequently performed her own music as well as music by her fellow composers and works from the standard repertoire. She has performed in a wide variety of venues, from a West Hollywood nightclub to the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. From 2000 to 2002 she was one half of the Geisel Library Toy Piano duo with Scott Paulson, and she appeared on ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and on PBS's California's Gold with Huell Howser. She has also performed as a chamber musician, vocal accompanist, church musician and musical theater pianist.
Linda holds a B.A. in music from U.C. Berkeley, an M.A. in music composition from New York University, and is currently in the final stages of a Ph.D. in composition from U.C. San Diego.
She has taught music courses at New York University, U.C. San Diego and San Diego City College. She has taught piano at the high school level as well as privately.
She lives outside Detroit with her physician/poet husband and a feline bodhisattva named Piccolo.
Happy New Year! I have a strong feeling that 2008 has wonderful things in store for you! Have a amazing new year!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again for your friendship... you are terrific! Diane
