TIMOTHY S. KELLEY, biography

Timothy S. Kelley is in his first year as assistant director of the Estacado Middle School Band after retiring from a distinguished career in higher education.  Before coming to the Plainview Independent School District, he was director of the Wayland Symphonic Winds and the highly acclaimed “Pioneer” Marching Band. Kelley serves as Director of Instrumental Studies, Director of Bands, Director of Instrumental Music Education, and Associate Professor of Music at Wayland Baptist University. Prior to his appointment at Wayland, Kelley served as Associate Director of Bands at Auburn University, where he was director of the Auburn University Marching Band and Assistant Professor of Low Brass. He has also served on the band staff at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), the University of Central Arkansas (Conway), the band staff of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and as Director of Fine Arts and Director of Bands of the award winning Warren “Lumberjack” Band.

Under his guidance, the Wayland Band was invited to serve as Special Musical Ambassadors for the United States in the 61st Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow, Russia. While there, the Wayland Band presented a feature performance in the Great Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, which included a joint performance with the Military Conducting Faculty of the Conservatory. The band also performed concerts for the Poklonnaya Gora Memorial; Gorky Park; Tverskaya Square-Governor’s Concert Stage in Moscow; as well as performances in the State Academic Capella Concert Hall, St. Petersburg; the Palace of Officer’s Military Conducting School, St. Petersburg; and performances for Baptist congregations in both cities. Mr. Kelley has also conducted programs in the Colegio Alfa & Omega, Denia, Spain, and in the Primos Cervantes La Universidad De Alcala, Alcala De Hernares, Spain.

In 2011, the Wayland Band performed their third major tour of Europe under Kelley’s leadership.  Their trip included concert performances at the St. Thomas Kirche, Leipzig, Germany (where Johann Sebastian Bach served as Kapellmeister); St Simon and Judah Church (now a concert venue), in Prague, Czech Republic; and a feature concert for the Schoenbrunn Palace Concert series in the L’Orangerie at the Schonbrunn Palace, in Vienna, Austria, where Wolfgang Mozart conducted his “Impressario”.

While at Wayland, Kelley has been recognized by his peers with the Faculty Contribution to the Profession Award in 1997, 1998, 2004 and again in 2007, and in 1998 was awarded the Faculty Scholarship Award.  He was first selected to Marquis Who’s Who in America in 2004 and the International Who’s Who Foundation for Professionals in 2005.  In 2002, Mr. Kelley was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster’s Fraternity.   Kelley has served as a campus Representative for the College Music Society and as College Chair for the Texas Music Educator’s Association, Region XVI, since 1996.  He served as Artistic Director of the Plainview Symphony Orchestra from 1998 – 2003, where he also served on the symphony board of directors and as guest performing artist and conductor on numerous occasions.  He has served on several university and faculty committees, the Region XVI steering committee, civic organizations and boards and was vice-president of the Wayland Faculty Assembly in 1997-98.

While at Auburn University, the marching band recorded their first series of compact disk recordings under Kelley’s direction, which were recognized by the “University Firsts” campaign.  The first recording from that project was flown aboard the space shuttle Discovery, which had three Auburn astronauts on the flight crew, and the school fight song was played as a wake-up call and broadcast by the “Today Show” on the air.  In the fall of 2004, Auburn University Marching Band was awarded the Sudler Trophy, by the John Philip Sousa Foundation (recognized as the musical equivalent of the Heismann Trophy, the same company makes both trophies).  Professor  Kelley was also recognized by the Sudler Foundation and Auburn University for his work with the Auburn University Marching Band. 

Mr. Kelley received the Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance at the University of Central Arkansas, where he was recognized as one of the “Top Five Outstanding University Students”, in 1982, was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and received the Outstanding Music Student Award.   He earned the Master of Music Education Degree in Conducting and Brass Pedagogy from North Texas State University (now UNT).  Kelley has done doctoral studies at the University of Mississippi, where he was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student in Music, in 1991, and has done additional work in the doctoral program at Texas Tech University, and post-graduate work at Northwestern University.

As a performer on trombone and euphonium, Mr. Kelley has received several major awards.  In 1979, he was selected as the principal of the National Intercollegiate Band, where he performed in Atlanta Symphony Hall under the baton of Donald McGinnis.  He has twice been selected to the International Tuba Association’s Collegiate All-Star Ensemble.  He has served as a featured artist for numerous orchestras, universities, and high school bands throughout the United States, as well as the Ice Capades, Shriner’s Circus and Barnum and Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth.  As a jazz and big band artist on trombone, Mr. Kelley has performed with the world renowned Guy Lombardo ‘Royal Canadians’ Big Band, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and The Lennon Sisters.

Professor Kelley has appeared extensively as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States and has appeared as a Performing Artist in the United States and abroad, most recently performing on trombone and euphonium and conducting a series of concerts in Spain, 2003; Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, 2006; Germany, Czech Republic and Austria, 2011.  He has presented clinics and educational workshops for the Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Colorado and Alabama State Music Educators Associations, as well as clinics for regional and area music programs in Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland and abroad.  Mr. Kelley maintains a heavy schedule as a marching drill designer and arranger for high school and university marching bands throughout the United States.

Mr. Kelley’s honorary and professional affiliations include the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Christian Instrumentalists & Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, College Band Directors National Association, American School Band Director’s Association, and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.