Laura K. Rosser
303A Morton Avenue /
Nashville, TN 37211
615.332.0272(w) /
615.426.6037(c)
laurakrosser@gmail.com
Education
Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, TN (2008—)
Presently pursuing Master of Arts and
Doctorate of Philosophy in Religion, Psychology, & Culture (RPC)
Belmont University, Nashville,
TN (2000-2004)
Earned Bachelor of Arts in Ministry with a
minor in Piano
Graduated summa cum laude with 3.99 GPA
Designed curriculum and senior thesis
project through the Honors Program
Academic Honors
and Awards
Recipient of Belmont University Alumni
Award (2004)
Belmont University Presidential
Scholar
(2000-2004)
Poetry editor and published author in Belmont
Literary Journals 2002, 2003, & 2004
Recipient of Charles F.
Treadway Award
for ministerial writing and communication (2003)
Musical Skills
and Affiliation
Versatile, experienced
concert pianist whose performances include classical repertoire, hymns, jazz
standards,
love songs, contemporary pieces,
original selections, and a spontaneous medley of audience requests
Writer member of ASCAP
Keyboard and/or choral arranger, composer, lyricist,
and singer/songwriter with absolute pitch
Expertise in sightreading music or charts, playing
by ear, transposition, improvisation, transcription, film scoring
Musical Work Experience
Worship Accompanist, McKendree Village Retirement Community 2010-Present
· Provide piano music for Sunday morning worship and
Wednesday morning chapel services
Private Piano and Voice Instructor 1994-Present
· Teach students of all ages and levels, blending
traditional methods with theory, ear training, and arranging
· Coordinate seasonal recitals to provide
students with performance opportunities
Independent
Musician/Accompanist/Performer/Arranger 1994-Present
- Provide piano accompaniment for choral groups,
worship services, concerts, conferences, festivals,
musicals, weddings, funerals, recording sessions, vocalists,
and instrumentalists
- Private performances for McKendree
Village, Harding Academy, Richland Country Club, The Women’s
Musicale,
Philanthropic Educational Organization, The Ensworth
School, Scarritt-Bennett Center, TN
Health
Department, Belle Meade Country Club (Nashville, TN); Cleveland (TN) Music Club
· Public
performances at Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, TN); Art & Soul, Belmont
Mansion, and
Cheekwood Mansion (Nashville, TN); The Pastime Theatre
(Winfield, AL); Middle TN State University
(Murfreesboro);
with the TN Ambassadors of Music in London, Paris, Switzerland, Austria, &
Germany
(1999); with
the Forest Hills Baptist Sanctuary Choir and Together International, Inc. in
Ukraine (2001)
· Presented
synesthesia lecture-concerts at Martin Methodist College and The Ensworth School (2005-06)
- Led musical worship and provided original
settings for the communion liturgy at leadership conferences of
the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the
United Methodist Church (2005-06, 2010)
- Created piano film score for Belmont United
Methodist Church’s “Building on the Legacy” video (2005)
- Performed first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto No. 3 (Spring 2004) and first movement of
Saint Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Belmont University
Orchestra (Spring 2002)
Church Concert
Artist 2000-Present
· Lead in worship by providing
concert-quality piano and vocal selections in a diverse array of styles
· Travel to churches among a
variety of sizes, denominations, demographics, and locations
· Past church locations include Woodburn Baptist,
Woodburn, KY; Hillcrest Baptist, Jackson, TN; Grey Stone Baptist, Durham, NC; First
Baptist, Oneida, TN; East Brentwood Presbyterian Church, Brentwood, TN; Church
of the Advent (Episcopal), Belmont United Methodist, & Forest Hills
Baptist, Nashville, TN; First Baptist, Winfield, AL; First United Methodist,
Franklin, TN; Monte Vista Baptist, Maryville, TN; First United Methodist, Linton,
IN; Central Baptist of Fountain City & Smithwood
Baptist, Knoxville, TN
Accompanist, East Brentwood Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 2005-2009
·
Provided piano
accompaniment and service music for traditional, contemporary, and blended
worship
· Accompanied weekly adult choir and praise band
rehearsals
Junior
Choristers Director, Church of the
Advent (Episcopal) 2004-2009
·
Led weekly
rehearsals for children ages 7-13, using sacred choral selections to teach
musical skills
·
Taught, directed,
and produced an age-appropriate musical or concert each spring
Choral
Accompanist, Harding Academy 2004-2008
·
Worked with 5th,
6th, 7th, and 8th grade choruses at Harding
Academy three days per week
· Accompanied seasonal performances, some assemblies,
and field trips
Recording Artist/Independent
Producer 2002-2005
·
Recorded commercial solo album of original piano hymn arrangements
entitled Tapestries of Grace
(2002)
· Produced second album, Live at Belmont Mansion, from recording
of last thesis concert on March 28, 2004
·
Arranged, accompanied, and produced soprano Valerie Hawkins’ first
album, In the Garden (2004)
·
Released third album, Laura’s
Christmas Creations, featuring instrumental sequencing and vocals (2005)
Counseling Training & Experience
Pastoral Psychotherapist (as a Vanderbilt
RPC Graduate Student) 2010-Present
·
Provide therapeutic
counseling sessions to clients dealing with a range of psychological and
spiritual issues
·
Receive
supervision in a weekly RPC Clinical Seminar led by AAPC-affiliated pastoral
counselors
Premarital
Counselor, Rachel & Robert Cole, Knoxville, TN Summer
2007
·
Designed and
implemented several long-distance topical counseling sessions with the bride
and groom
·
Co-officiated at
their wedding (along with a licensed minister) and co-wrote its liturgy and
prayers
Undergraduate
Ministry Student, Belmont University 2002-2004
·
Completed
semester-long chaplaincy practicum at Baptist Hospital, Nashville, TN, under
Dr. Ben Curtis
·
Also took courses
in Pastoral Counseling, Psychology of Religion, and Spiritual Formation
Published Writing
Published Lyricist and Composer,
Monarch Music (former division of the Lorenz Corporation) 2006-2008
·
Wrote
best-selling Advent choral anthem “A Child Is Born,” chosen by J.W. Pepper as an
Editor’s Choice
·
Expanded the
above anthem into a Christmas cantata of the same name, co-written with Mary
McDonald
·
Co-wrote another
cantata selection, “Let There Be Light,” that was re-released independently in
2008
Freelance
Writer/Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers July-August
2004
·
Edited Plunge! student
edition for best-selling author Max Lucado’s book Come Thirsty
·
Converted adult
study guide to teen format and assembled activities for Plunge! Leader’s Guide
· Wrote two 96-page study guides for teen girls on the
books of James and Mark as companion products for
Revolve New
Testament Bible-zine
Commitments & Activities
Member of
Belmont United Methodist Church (BUMC) and its Abigail Circle of United
Methodist Women
Serve as
Communications Coordinator for the BUMC Congregational Care Partners
Offer teaching
sessions on the Enneagram personality typology to individuals, couples,
and groups