Westminster, VT -- Pete Keppler never dreamed his career path would lead to an Emmy Award, but in 2021 it became a reality.

As part of Kurn Hattin’s Career Awareness Program (CAP), nationally renowned audio engineer and music producer Pete Keppler visited the campus to share his story of personal and professional experiences that led to a star-studded career in the music industry, spanning 44 years and still counting.

Set up on stage in Kurn Hattin’s Higbie Auditorium, Pete began his inspirational presentation with unabashed honesty about struggles early on in his life. He told the students that his father died from the effects of alcoholism at the age of 46, when Pete was just seven years old. “The secrets in my life really shaped my personality,” Pete said. “I felt ashamed. I wasn’t able to relate to kids my own age and I eventually went down some of the same paths as my dad. I started getting into trouble in middle school, partly because I didn’t have an adult I felt I could trust.”

Pete quickly turned the focus back to Kurn Hattin and said, “This place is incredible… You have trusting adults you can talk to about anything. I wish I’d had that when I was your age.”

When Pete was in his teens, his sights were set on being a drummer in a rock and roll band. He had some musical talent, but later learned that his true talent is in producing, recording, and mixing music.

So, what steps did Pete take to start the journey to such a successful career? He took any job he could and learned something from each one along the way. He made connections in the music industry and never said no to opportunity. His connections led to years on the road and in recording studios with musical giants such as David Bowie, Bonnie Raitt, Katy Perry, and many others. In 2020, Pete was asked to become the music mixer on American Utopia, a concert film directed and produced by Spike Lee, developed from a rock and roll world tour-turned-Broadway theater show by David Byrne of the Talking Heads. That gig ultimately led to an Emmy Award for Creative Arts in mixing.

Most impressive to the students, however, was Pete’s role as sound engineer for the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show in 2015 featuring pop star Katy Perry. Knowing her music, and now knowing Pete, made some of the kids feel excited about being close to fame. “Fame,” Pete cautioned, “in itself is not a natural state and it can be quite empty. It’s seems exciting to be famous, but it’s not something I would encourage you to aspire to in life.”

Years on the road have given Pete a tremendous resume, deep insight, and a wealth of wisdom.

While his touring days are essentially behind him, Pete is still on the road making music. This time it’s on his own terms, in a mobile recording studio he recently finished building himself.

Pete is very happy to be where he is today. He says, “I feel grateful to share my life with people who have their whole lives ahead of them. I want them to know that it’s possible to come from almost anywhere and succeed in life.”

About Kurn Hattin

Since 1894, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, located in Westminster, VT, has helped thousands of children and their families by offering a safe home and quality education in a nurturing environment. To learn more, please visit kurnhattin.org.