Kaleya Kerr-Ervin
LONG BEACH, CA | AGE 19
REPERTOIRE
ROUND 1:
BETTY JACKSON KING: Four Seasonal Sketches
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN: Étude Op. 25 No. 10
ROUND 2:
ALBERT HAY MALOTTE: The Lord's Prayer, arr. Richard Smallwood
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN: Scherzo S. 175 No. 3
SEMI-FINALS:
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN: Ballade No. 3
FRANZ LISZT: Légende No. 2
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Prelude Book 1 No. 5 — "Les collines d'Anacapri"
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Prelude Book 2 No. 3 — "La Puerta del Vino"
CONCERTO:
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15
BIOGRAPHY:
Kaleya Kerr-Ervin is pursuing a Bachelor of Music at Texas College, studying piano with Dr. Jaeyong Lee. Originally from Long Beach, California, she began studying music at age six and shifted to classical piano at thirteen. She is dedicated to performance and artistic growth through rigorous study, competitions, and regular public recitals.
Before beginning her formal musical education, Kerr-Ervin overcame significant personal challenges that shaped her resilience and determination. As a child, she experienced near-total blindness from Salzmann’s Nodular Degeneration, a rare eye condition, and entered foster care at age three. Despite these early obstacles, she drew strength and inspiration from her experiences and expressed them in her music. She later received effective eye treatment and, at age six, was adopted by her great-aunt and -uncle.
Kerr-Ervin has distinguished herself in both performance and competition. In 2025, she participated in the National Association of Negro Musicians Piano Competition and delivered a one-hour recital for the Black Musicians Association of Tarrant County (BMATC), demonstrating artistic maturity and technical skill. She earned Second Place in the 2024 Pageant of the Arts Competition and First Place in the 2023 Georgia Laster Association of Musicians Competition. She also competed in the NAACP ACT-SO Convention Competition, underscoring her commitment to excellence in the performing arts.
As an emerging classical pianist, Kerr-Ervin continues to cultivate a musical voice defined by resilience, discipline, and expressive artistry. Her journey reflects artistic achievement and perseverance, making her an inspiring example for future musicians.
