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Kathryn Schwarz Bakke
For More
Information Call: 651-735-2080
Kathryn Bakke is a
mesmerizing speaker and pianist/entertainer - and a composer –
who is legally deaf. When confronted with a seemingly impossible
challenge, a musician without hearing, she seized her dream,
earning a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance.
Having held demanding church music positions; having taught
advanced, prize-winning piano students, she now performs theme
show tours all over the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and
nationally – almost 250 engagements in 2006.
This stunning accomplishment, combined with her ability to
motivate audiences, is the platform from which she inspires and
educates people to confront their challenges and vanquish them.
As a speaker, she is equally effective as an advocate and
trainer and an eloquent keynote speaker. Her musical keynotes
hold lasting places in her audiences’ memories.
As a pianist/entertainer, Kathryn specializes in theme shows,
both seasonal and creatively customized. She has been referred
to as a female Victor Borge. Performing at the piano with élan,
she seasons her shows with humorous routines about funny things
that happen to her in her varied, challenging and joyful life
and appealing nostalgic stories. She fills the need of her
audience to “get away”, both physically and emotionally, to a
happier world.
Areas of Expertise:
Entertainment/Music
Humor
Motivation
Aging/retirement
Target Audience:
Small and large groups of people wanting the inspiration and
motivation and entertainment that Kathryn provides. She
accomplishes this by her example, her engaging delivery and her
touching or humorous stories which demonstrate her triumph over
challenges, with warmth and positivism.
Top
Three Reasons to have Kathryn Bakke at your next event:
You will be empowered to overcome your
personal challenges, taking home skills to apply to everyday
life.
You will be motivated as Kathryn shares her
poignant and fun-filled journey from desperation and loneliness
to a fulfilled life as a successful musician and speaker.
Absolutely unique in the speaking field,
Kathryn uses her dual roles as a pianist and speaker to
skillfully and humorously illustrate the skills you need to
confront challenges at work and play.
Fees:
Keynote: $1,500
Half
Day: $2,000
Full
Day $2,500
Kathryn's Most Requested Programs:
Musical Keynotes:
“Overcoming Impossible Challenges” – Learn ways and specific
techniques to create detours and steer around the roadblocks to
activities you most want to do.
“Be All You Can Be” – Honestly evaluate and change your
circumstances, living life to the full.
“Detours are the Real Trip” – Add zest to your life as you learn
how to turn detours into the real tours, appreciating life’s
roadblocks and transforming them into the best part of your
life.
Training:
“Sure They Can Hear, but They Want to Listen!” – Learn how to
communicate with people with a hearing loss. Even more
important, learn to make your environment and your attitude
comfortable for people with a hearing loss. Be educated about
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance.
“Overcoming Impossible Challenges” – Be empowered to build
success stories from challenges that seem insurmountable.
Entertainment:
Theme Shows (partial list):
“Love and Valentines” – You’ll be charmed by an entertaining
musical collage of romantic music to fit antique,
three-dimensional Valentines, making your Valentine event
unique.
“Laugh with the Irish” – A lively, laughing show full of
entertaining, joyful Irish music, audience participation and
celebration of the Irish.
“My America” - This nostalgic celebration of our great country,
its history and its patriotic music includes a sing-along, an
Armed Forces revue and riveting piano music that connects with a
wide variety of audiences.
“The Fairest Day of All” – This musical, tongue-in-cheek
celebration of the state fair, done with one of Kathryn’s
exciting vocal collaborators, invites us all to get out and
enjoy the community feeling and unique flavor of each state’s
annual fair.
“Fascinating Fall” –A stunning success in its debut run in the
fall of 2005, this show strikes a chord with listeners, often
moving them to tears.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Piano” – Kathryn
amuses and inspires with personal stories en route to the
applause.
“Music and Life are Fun! – Kathryn’s newest show features a
delightful collection of humorous stories and routines, each
paired with the perfect piece to charm or wow the audience.
Testimonials:
“Mount Olivet Day Services’
participants and staff had the pleasure of experiencing Kathryn
Bakke’s presentation, “Overcoming Impossible Challenges”. With
the use of inspiring stories and interesting facts, Ms. Bakke
described how everyone can face the obstacles or “detours of
life” with a positive and adventurous spirit! I greatly
recommend this presentation to caregiver groups, community
education leaders and more! We are very thankful to have had the
opportunity to listen and learn from Ms. Bakke’s presentation.”
Dana Larson Activities/Volunteer Coordinator Mount
Olivet Day Services
“Our residents, their visiting family and friends, and even
our staff were entertained and amused by this most uncommon
selection, “Laugh with the Irish.” Numerous comments were made
as to the uniqueness of the shows as well as the fun and
light-hearted delivery.” Leah Cirillo, Activities
Director Castle Home Care, L.L.C.
“Her message is positive and encouraging, filled with hope,
as she outlines concrete, affordable, and realistic strategies.”
Ben Leslie, Hiller Lecture conference chair, North
American Baptist Seminary
“The June, 2004 Washington D.C. patriotic theme show is
'just one' of a wide range of shows that she has designed and
performed for diverse audiences. In addition to being a piano
'virtuoso,' she is diverse in her musical interests. Broadway,
Classical, Jazz and Pop are all on her menu at one time or
another.” Anne-Marie Liss, concert chair
“Those of us who live in rural Minnesota seldom have the
opportunity to attend workshops of this caliber without driving
great distances. We are grateful that you were willing to come
to us. Your encouragement “to find detours rather than
stop at road blocks” when we are handed seemingly impossible
challenges was an inspiration for all of us. Your message says
we all have hurdles to overcome, but to strive to seek
fulfillment in life no matter what happens along the way. Many
in our audience came to me and said how much they appreciated
the opportunity to hear your message and your piano performance.
Thank you for playing beautiful music and for providing us with
helpful skills to continue our life’s journey.” Rayanne
Sillers, Director One to One Peer Counseling and Conference
Chair
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