Basil Kerr, Director
Basil Kerr is in his tenth year as the conductor of the Charleston Concert Band.
A native of Charleston, Mr. Kerr graduated from Bishop England High School; earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami; and a Master’s degree in Music from the University of South Carolina. He has completed his doctoral studies at USC. A performer on the French horn, Mr. Kerr has performed with the Miami Philharmonic, the Ives Festival Chamber Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony, the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Summerville Orchestra, and the North Charleston Pops.
Mr. Kerr is a 49-year veteran music educator at the high school and university levels. He built
the Wando HS band and the Charleston School of the Arts band into nationally recognized
organizations. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Hall of Fame in
2018. In 2019 he was recognized as a “Super Teacher” by the University of Miami’s Frost
School of Music. He continues working as a guest conductor and clinician at schools across the Lowcountry.
From 2020-2024, Mr. Kerr was the director of the Charleston Jazz Academy, the education wing of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. During that period he brought the Academy out of the pandemic and, under his leadership, brought jazz education programs to thousands of students across the Charleston area.
Under Mr. Kerr’s baton the Charleston Concert Band has built a reputation as one of the finest volunteer music ensembles in South Carolina. In February 2025, the CCB was invited to perform as the opening concert for the SC Music Educators Association Conference in Columbia. Currently, in honor of the 250 th anniversary of Independence Day in 2026, the band has commissioned a new concert piece by Jay Bocook, composer and professor at Furman University. Mr. Kerr will be overseeing this project, which will culminate in a world premiere performance on July 4, 2026.
Mr. Kerr may be contacted at conductor@charlestonconcertband.org.
Susan DuPuis, Assistant Director
Susan P. DuPuis has enjoyed playing trumpet with the Charleston Concert Band for more than twenty years and has served as Assistant Conductor of the band since 2007.
Susan attended public schools in Charleston and graduated from St. Andrew’s Parish High School where she was a trumpet student of Major Earl Mays of The Citadel. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University and studied trumpet with Mr. Richard Steffen.
Mrs. DuPuis served as director of bands at St. Andrew’s Parish High School, overseeing the marching, concert and jazz bands. Her teaching career continued as director of bands at C.E. Williams Middle School (Charleston) as well as at Cario Middle School (Mt. Pleasant, SC). While at Cario Middle, the program achieved state, regional, and national success in competitions for middle school bands.
Susan has performed with instrumental groups throughout the area and continues to play with the Charleston Concert Band and the Charleston Wind Symphony. She has served as a clinician for the Citadel Band Camp, Charleston Southern University Band Camp, Charleston School of the Arts, and Palmetto Christian Academy.
Mrs. DuPuis continues as a music educator by serving as an adjunct instructor in music at Charleston Southern University and by teaching private lessons to young trumpet students in the area.
Mrs. DuPuis may be contacted at asstconductor@charlestonconcertband.org.
Past Conductors
Eddie Toporek
Earl Mays
Herb Day
Jeff Hooven
Stephen B. Giove
John Spitler
Mike Alverson
Todd Jenkins