Basil Kerr, Director
Basil Kerr is in his fifth 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. As a performer on the French horn, Kerr has performed the with the Miami Philharmonic, the Ives Festival Chamber Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony, the South Carolina Philharmonic and the North Charleston Pops.
From 1977-1995 Kerr was the band director at Wando High School, building a program that continues its successful run today. In 1998, he became the high school band director at the Charleston County School of the Arts . Until his retirement in 2018 the SOA Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble have been recognized as among the finest programs in the nation.
Mr. Kerr holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, the Association of Concert Bands, The American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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