Kent Petzold was born into a musical family. His father was a trained singer, and his mother was a piano and accordion teacher. He has a twin brother and two older brothers who all became musicians. All are organists and choir directors.
Kent was born in Indiana but spent most of his life in Wisconsin, where he went to school and did all of his undergraduate work at the UW-Stevens Point. His first degree was in English with majors in creative writing and transformational/generative grammar. He then pursued a Music degree and eventually in Instrumental Music education, Keyboard performance and music history and literature with an emphasis in opera and orchestral conducting. He worked towards a Master’s at the American Orchestral Institute in Minneapolis.
He taught in schools throughout Wisconsin for over 25 years, mostly band and orchestra, but did a good share of teaching in choir, English and food and nutrition. He was a state music adjudicator and clinician in Band, flute, piano, brass, and harp.
His dad was a UCC pastor for over 55 years so he started young in the church “business and has been a church organist and choir director for 50 years. Kent is comfortable with all genres of music ranging from show tunes, cocktail lounge piano music, Gospel and Bach. He was even the stadium organist for the Central Wisconsin Flyers hockey team. His hobbies include cooking, bicycling, and is an antiques dealer. His biggest love is the church and spending time with Jesus.