Travis Kern was born in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Growing up with U.S. Diplomats Ivan and Shirley Kern,

he spent his formative years moving every two years from

country to country. Costa Rica, England, Israel, El Salvador, Korea,

Cuba, Poland, Denmark, and Jamaica provided him with a

cosmopolitan upbringing and the source of his passion for music. 

His first memorable music experience was performing

the boy solo to Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in Warsaw, Poland.

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Retired after 30 years of public-school teaching, he is currently a first year Doctor of Musical Arts student at the University of Florida.  Previously, he was the Director of Choral Activities at Colquitt County High School where he conducted the A Cappella choir, The Serenaders, the Women’s Chorale, The Men’s Ensemble and the Camerata Choir.  He founded the Community men’s choir of Colquitt County, he was the artistic director for the Albany Chorale and is still the Music director for the First United Methodist Church of Moultrie, Georgia

 

His choirs consistently were rated superior at GMEA LGPE, and he had more than 400 students participate in the GMEA All State Choirs over the course of his career.  His choirs have won numerous awards throughout the Southeast and have performed in: St. Paul’s at the Vatican, St. Marks in Venice, St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Carnegie Hall, St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and the Kawaiaha’o Church in Honolulu.  He has conducted choirs in Austria, Scotland, France and Italy.

 

An accomplished theatrical director and actor, Travis has directed or starred in more than 40 musicals. His favorite shows he has directed are Phantom of the Opera, Aida, Titanic, Les Miserables and Newsies to name a few.  As an actor his favorite roles have been: Adam in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the title character of Jekyll and Hyde, Lancelot in Camelot, Dr. Carrasco in Man of La Mancha and Daddy Warbucks in Annie. Last year he was pleased to take the role of Don Alfonso in Valdosta State Universities production of Cosi fan tutte.

 

In his spare time, Travis enjoys reading, swimming, golf, riding his Harley-Davidson and spending time with his family. Married to Robin Kern, he has two sons, Kellen and Aidan and is thankful for their love and support.