On February 14, 2014, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra (LSWO) Board of Trustees appointed percussionist Brandon Kelly as the first official director of the LSWO Percussion Ensemble.
Brandon Kelly has been with the LSWO since the organization’s founding in 2006. Kelly brings strong leadership and artistic programming experience to the position. Even before this month’s official appointment, he has been a driving force behind the percussion ensemble’s vision and direction. Kelly is an advocate for percussive arts and an innovator of percussion concert presentation.
“This is a very important and exciting step for the continued growth of the LSWOPE and it is an honor to have been chosen to guide its future,” said Brandon Kelly. “With the high caliber of musicians this group already boasts, I look forward to expanding the ensemble’s percussive presence in the DFW cultural scene.”
A native of New Jersey, Brandon Kelly received his undergraduate education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kelly pursued his Masters in Percussion Performance as a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, where he had the responsibilities of teaching undergraduate percussion lessons, percussion methods classes, and directing UNT’s 12 O’clock Percussion Ensemble. He served as principal percussionist of the world-renowned North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon.
With a passion for new music, Brandon Kelly has been heavily involved in recording and can be found on 40-plus commercially available recordings since 1999. Kelly has premiered dozens of new works by some of the world’s leading composers, including Frank Ticheli, Donald Grantham, John Mackey, and Richard Danielpour. Currently, Kelly is a percussion instructor for the nationally-renowned Marcus High School Band where he teaches private lessons and assists with all aspects of the percussion studio.
The LSWO Percussion Ensemble was formed during the 2009-2010 season to showcase the organization’s highly touted percussion section. The group presents a full-length concert each spring in the BOA Theatre at the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Article written by Christopher Tucker