Dr. Laura Bell

Dr. Laura Bell earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance with high honors from New England Conservatory of Music in 1985 followed by a Master of Music in Piano Performance from University of Southern California in 1987.  Eventually she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Rutgers in 1997.

Dr. Bell has combined her love of teaching and her love of performance throughout her career.  Dr. Bell taught at Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey for 13 years.  During that time she founded and ran Dr. Bell’s School of Music teaching piano for 25 years and offering instruction in other instruments.  She also organized New Jersey Piano Festival, was a founding member of NJ Pianist Competition and has adjudicated for many competitions and festivals throughout her career.  She taught at CASSA in 2007 and 2008.

For the last 12 years Dr. Bell changed course slightly and has been a public school music teacher and choir director in Montgomery Township, NJ.  She is certified as an Art and Music Supervisor and intends to continue her career supervising new music teachers and overseeing Music and Art in public school districts. She has had many student teachers and has found a great joy developing and encouraging a new generation of teachers. 

In addition, Dr. Bell has been the full time organist, pianist and accompanist for Montgomery United Methodist Church in Montgomery, NJ, as well as other singing organizations including the Princeton Gil Choir and the Starlite Chorale.  Dr. Bell has performed with orchestras and choirs, chamber music and solo concerts in Boston, Los Angeles, France, and all over New York and New Jersey.  Dr. Bell has made 2 CD’s in the last 5 years of solo piano music. A recent CD, “Deck the Holidays” is comprised of arrangements of familiar and traditional Christmas music in all genres and styles.