Classical pianist, composer, performer, arranger, producer, and teacher, Paul Schulte Kueter “wanted to help heal the world with music.” In pursuit of this goal, he lived and worked his entire life as a musician. He died on September 20, 2016 in Summit, New Jersey at the age of 91. His musical career spanned 70 years.
While Mr. Kueter lived in North Plainfield, New Jersey, he was known to many residents of the greater Lowville, New York area since he had a summer home on nearby Chase Lake. He vacationed there with his family for more than forty years, up until 2014. He loved the beauty and relaxed pace of life of the area, made many lasting friendships there, and enjoyed contributing to the musical life of the community.
Through the years, he and his wife, pianist Carolle-Ann Mochernuk, performed numerous concerts in Lewis County, including historic Constable Hall in Constableville, and the Lewis County Historical Society in Lowville. He also played for the Lowville United Methodist Church’s Sunday services for many summers.
Mr. Kueter was born in South Saint Louis in 1925 and grew up there. He was going to pursue a career in journalism, but at the onset of World War II, enlisted in the Naval officer training program. Upon exiting the Navy, he saw, as he later recalled, “the world was in a mess and needed healing, and I knew music could be a great healing force.” He decided at that moment to make music his life.
He graduated from Chicago Musical College and started his professional life in New York City in 1949. He moved to Westfield, New Jersey in 1957, and remained in that area to raise his family and pursue the rest of his career, which included sixty years of private teaching.
Over his lifetime, Mr. Kueter played innumerable concerts regionally, and across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. He guest soloed with leading regional symphonies in New Jersey and performed as an ensemble artist in Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, and Carnegie Recital Hall.
In addition to performing, Mr. Kueter composed works for solo piano, instrumental ensembles, voice, and ballet. He arranged extensively for four-hand piano, and with his wife, Ms. Mochernuk, created, narrated, and performed programs that often blended classical and Broadway music. Together they recorded five CDs.
Besides his private teaching, Mr. Kueter taught for ten years at Douglass College, Rutgers University, and served on the faculty of Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also obtained degrees from the University of Michigan and Columbia University.
Reflecting on his life, he summarized: “I never had to push a pencil in an office. I’ve always been able to earn my living as a musician and raise a family. I’ve never regretted being a musician. I’ve always loved it.”
Mr. Kueter is survived by his wife Carolle-Ann Mochernuk of North Plainfield, New Jersey; his second wife, Carolyn Klinger-Kueter and their two children Derek and Kristin; and his four children, David, Kathy, Karen, and Erica from his first wife, Elizabeth Kniffin.