About our Experts

Unmatched expertise in music education

Steve Lipman, Founder and CEO

Head of admissions and faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 40 years, Steve Lipman and our team at Inside Music Schools speak music as their primary language. We approach each client contact with open eyes, ears, and minds. We apply our experience and expertise as professional music educators and veteran consultants to the specific goals, skills, and concerns of each student and their families. Our clients are now launching careers from Juilliard, Berklee, USC, New England Conservatory, Jacobs School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, NYU, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and nearly every other major music program in the country.

Karen Kerr, Managing Director/Senior Consultant

An accomplished professional with over 28 years of experience in higher education, admissions, and recruitment, Karen has always made her goal finding the best-fit school for student musicians.

Most recently, she served as the Director of Admission and Recruitment at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where she was responsible for recruitment, auditions/interviews, and admissions of all undergraduate and graduate applicants. During her 17 years at Frost, she was instrumental in the significant increase of the academic profile for admitted undergraduate students and the over 100% increase in graduate program applications.

Bob Mulvey, Educational Advisor

Bob Mulvey serves as a special advisor for Inside Music Schools in the areas of learning and organizational skills. Bob has many years of experience as an educator, college administrator, and clinician. He taught in secondary settings, including public, vocational, and alternative schools.

Bob held the position of Instructor in the Graduate School of Lesley College and the English Department at Bunker Hill Community College. Over 32 years at Berklee College of Music, Bob was Associate Director of the Counseling and Academic Advising Center, Director of Disability and Accommodation Services, and an Associate Professor. Bob holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and a Master’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Liam Pendergrass, Social Media Manager & Research Associate

Liam Pendergrass is a professional multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and educator from central North Carolina. He currently performs as a touring solo artist, band leader for blues/funk trio “Liam & The Nerdy Blues”, and lead guitarist for indie rock band “Swim in the Wild.” Liam is a Catawba College alumni and former adjunct instructor that has performed and recorded with many noteworthy musicians during his career. Aside from performance, Liam specializes in private guitar, bass, and music theory instruction and works as a writer and researcher for Inside Music Schools.

Mary Haley, Administrative Associate & Project Coordinator

Mary has over 20 years of marketing experience working with organizations to craft and carry out their marketing campaigns while keeping everything organized and humming along. At Inside Music Schools, she manages the website and numerous special projects. A graduate of the College of Mount Saint Vincent with a degree in Communications, Mary also holds a certificate in Brand Management from Cornell University.