When Peter Kennedy ’22 mistakenly walked into the wrong college representative session as a high school student, he had no idea the error would steer him toward Lehigh—and eventually into the orbit of another Lehigh alum who would help shape his career. Nearly twenty-five years earlier, Travis LaBerge ’98 arrived at Lehigh with plans to become an engineer but left with a newfound devotion to music. Their individual stories began far apart, yet their paths converged in Boulder, Colorado, through the steady influence of a beloved professor and a shared belief in the transformative power of the arts.
Two Journeys, One Alma Mater
Kennedy grew up in Boulder, Colo. surrounded by the sound of violins. “My grandfather maintained a lifelong love of the violin,” he recalled. “Once my older brother started playing, I could hardly stay away.”
Family gatherings often meant impromptu multigenerational string performances — memories that anchored his earliest connection to music.
At Lehigh, he dove into every ensemble and musical opportunity he could find. He double majored in music and mathematics, driven by a natural affinity for both.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with them after college,” Kennedy said. “But it seemed like the right step to keep both doors open.”
Outside the classroom, he discovered swing dance, joined a D&D group, and took Arabic — all experiences that broadened his sense of identity and possibility.
LaBerge’s Lehigh story began differently. Raised in rural Vermont, he chose the university for engineering and proximity to home. But something shifted almost immediately.
“After the first couple of months, I knew engineering wasn’t for me,” he says. “My music class and piano lessons were the only things I enjoyed.”
He met with Professor Paul Salerni for advice, and the blunt honesty he received became a defining moment. “He told me that if I ‘ever wanted to make a living,’ I should stick with engineering and stay away from music,” LaBerge said. “It was a warning, a test and a challenge all at once.”
That challenge reshaped his life. LaBerge switched majors, earned degrees in music and psychology, completed nearly enough credits for an economics minor and spent a Presidential Scholar year taking graduate education courses. Eventually, those combined interests helped him launch Parlando School of Musical Arts, now one of Colorado’s leading hubs for community-based music education.
“Lehigh’s music department newsletter was called Parlando when I was there, which means ‘to speak in a musical way,’ explained LaBerge. “I chose the name Parlando School of Musical Arts as a homage to my time at Lehigh and the pivotal role the music department played during my time there.”
A Mentor Connects Two Generations
It was fitting that Salerni would be the one to bring their stories together.
“When Professor Salerni learned I was moving back to Boulder, he connected me with Travis immediately,” Kennedy said. “He insisted we meet.”
LaBerge didn’t hesitate. “Paul has always given me great advice and is an excellent judge of character,” he explained. “If he told me I needed to meet Peter, I was going to meet Peter.”
The two sat down for coffee in Boulder shortly after Peter graduated and the connection was instantaneous. “Peter is smart, curious, driven,” LaBerge said. “He wants to leave his mark on the world in a way that’s true to who he is.”
Kennedy felt the same spark. “Travis’s inclusive, welcoming approach reminded me of the best parts of Lehigh’s music community,” he added. “Before I knew it, I was starting my career as a violin teacher.”
Building Something Meaningful—Together
Kennedy joined Parlando as a violin instructor, but his role quickly expanded. He now works with students across Boulder-area schools, coaches orchestras, teaches group classes, and composes for Parlando’s Commissioned Composers Project. “I love seeing students light up when they complete a challenging goal,” he said. “Their fresh perspective always inspires me.”
Meanwhile, LaBerge continues to guide the organization he founded in 2002. His focus spans fundraising, financial stewardship, school outreach and mentoring faculty. “I love that the arts allow us to find connections in a world with so much division,” he said. “And I love playing a role in helping others pursue their artistic passions regardless of their backgrounds.”
Working together has been effortless. “Peter doesn’t need managing—he needs support,” LaBerge said. “He reminds me of the best parts of what Lehigh can represent: intellectually curious, driven people who can build whatever they want if they’re willing to put in the work.”
Kennedy has continued building on that foundation, even launching his own wedding music business, Ponderosa Strings. But Parlando remains at the heart of his professional life, a place where he has become both teacher and creator.
A Shared Lehigh Spirit
Though they never overlapped on campus, Kennedy and LaBerge bonded instantly over what Lehigh had instilled in them: curiosity, resilience and the confidence to forge their own paths.
“Lehigh showed me that you can synthesize seemingly disconnected parts of your identity into a new direction,” Kennedy added.
For LaBerge, the university offered something equally powerful. “For the first time, my only limitations were the ones I put on myself,” he reflected. “Lehigh gave me the confidence to go out into the world and make something happen.”
Now, in Boulder, those two Lehigh journeys have intertwined with one alum offering guidance shaped by decades of experience, the other bringing new energy, creativity, and perspective. Together, they are expanding access to music education for thousands of students across Colorado.
And it all began with an unexpected introduction, a shared mentor and the enduring harmony of a Lehigh education.
Spotlight Recipient
Peter Kennedy ’22 & Travis LaBerge ’98
Parlando School of Musical Arts