Born in Susanville in California in 1966, Kerry started singing at an early age. She won a study award from the San Francisco Opera and held a Master’s Degree in Music from the University of North Texas as well as a Doctorate in Voice from the University of Texas at Austin. While living in the US, Kerry performed a number of Mozart and Handel operas as well as concert repertoire with Baroque orchestras throughout the US and Texas. She also performed the role of Mona in the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s opera, Bandanna, an updated version of Othello set in a Texas border town in the 1960s.

She met her husband, Robert, while studying and teaching in Austin. Shortly after marrying they moved to Scotland to build a life together and had two children, Aidan and Maria.

Kerry joined the Largs Operatic Society and performed a number of roles over the years including the lead role of Hannah in the Merry Widow, Fruma Sara in the Fiddler on the Roof and Hattie in Kiss Me Kate. She sang the song “Somewhere” during the ballet of the West Side Story at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. She also played the role of Guido’s mother in Walter Paul’s production of Nine.

Besides performing, Kerry’s big love was teaching. She held teaching fellowships during her university studies and taught singing at Concordia University in Austin for 6 years. After moving to Scotland she taught for a number of years at the Glasgow Academy for Musical Theatre Arts. Latterly, before she passed away, she was vocal coach at West College Paisley and Greenock campuses.

Kerry was an inspirational, loving and dedicated teacher and role model for her students. She valued good teaching and championed disadvantaged students, ensuring that they had proper coaching and access to facilities and technology. Many of her students went on to have successful carrers in the West End, film and theatre.