A Life Dedicated to Music

As president of Kidder Music Service, Beth (Kidder) Houlihan ’93 has spent her career helping students discover the power of music. Whether it’s a child picking up an instrument for the first time or a high school student finding their place in band, orchestra, or choir, she’s witnessed how music can shape lives far beyond the classroom.

“There’s a ton of research on how music stimulates the brain in a million different ways from a very young age throughout your life,” Houlihan said. “Music helps kids develop confidence, relationships, creativity, collaboration, and social awareness. Band, orchestra, and choir students have their own music family as they navigate middle school and high school. They’re part of a team where everyone contributes to create something together.”

Music has been a constant in Houlihan’s life for as long as she can remember. She began taking piano lessons at age five before adding violin and clarinet. While she enjoyed learning instruments, singing ultimately became her passion.

Today, she continues that passion as a member of the Morton Civic Chorus, where she has performed for more than 20 years. Each spring, the chorus raises money for the Central Illinois Memorial Kidney Fund through its annual concert. This year alone, the organization generated more than $80,000 through ticket sales and donations.

“It gives me the opportunity to sing great music for a wonderful cause,” she said.

Growing Up in the Family Business

Long before she became president of Kidder Music Service, Houlihan was learning the business from the ground up. Her parents, James and Floride Kidder, founded Kidder Music in 1974, and she practically grew up in the store.

“I always like to say I started in the business when I was eight years old, grading the listening tests directors used to give students interested in joining band and orchestra,” Houlihan recalled. “My dad would bring stacks of them home, and I thought it was super cool to be grading tests.”

As she got older, her responsibilities grew. During high school, she worked part-time in the business, handling shipping and receiving, filing paperwork, and eventually helping customers on the sales floor. “I loved talking to customers,” she said. “While I was in college, I began working more closely with my dad, becoming his assistant and learning more about the business.”

Although she never pursued a career in music education, Houlihan enjoyed helping young musicians find the right instrument and witnessing their excitement when they made their first sound.

For a time, she considered becoming a music therapist. “I thought using music to help people would be very rewarding,” she said. “But as I learned more about what was involved, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I decided I’d go to college and figure it out there.”

Finding Her Place at Bradley

After graduating from high school, Houlihan initially enrolled at Illinois State University. It didn’t take long, however, for her to realize that a large university wasn’t the right environment. “The big-school life was not for me,” she said.

After attending Illinois Central College, she transferred to Bradley, where she found both the academic experience and close-knit community she had been searching for. “Bradley was a much better fit for the way I learn,” she said.

As a Music Business major, Houlihan gained valuable knowledge she would later apply to her career. But some of her favorite memories were made in the halls of Constance Hall and Dingeldine Music Center. “Those were my people,” she said.

One of her most meaningful experiences came through Bradley’s Women’s Choir, where she developed as a musician and gained confidence as a performer. “It was the first time I had the opportunity to sing harmonies, which didn’t come naturally to me,” Houlihan explained. “It made me a better musician.”

The relationships she built and the skills she developed at Bradley would continue to influence her long after graduation.

Leading with Purpose

When Houlihan became president of Kidder Music Service in 2010, she brought decades of experience to the role—not only as the founders’ daughter, but as a musician, employee, and Bradley-trained business professional who understood every aspect of the company.

Today, Kidder Music Service is recognized as one of the nation’s leading music retailers, consistently ranking among the top 100 music businesses in the country out of nearly 12,000 nationwide. Under Houlihan’s leadership, the company continues its mission of helping students discover the lifelong benefits of music while supporting the educators who make those experiences possible.

Looking back, Houlihan credits much of her success to her parents, former and current Kidder team members, and the educators that taught her so much along the way.

Her advice to her younger self is simple: “Be patient. Listen. Don’t rush through life. Take time to enjoy the moments—and don’t necessarily say the first thing that pops into your head.”

It’s wisdom shaped by a lifetime in music, a career built on relationships, and a belief that the most meaningful accomplishments don’t happen overnight. For Houlihan, music has never been just a profession. It’s been a lifelong community, a source of purpose, and a way to help others find their own voice.

— Emily Potts