Ms. Kelsey D. Burkett, Director of Choirs

 

Raised in Solon, OH, Kelsey D. Burkett is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir.  She completed her Masters of Music in Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Capital University in 2019. In her 15th year of teaching, she has a passion for the developing voice and middle school singers. She serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School, where she directs the 7th Grade Treble Choir, 8th Grade Treble Choir, and the contemporary a cappella group, Blue Notes.  She also serves as co-director (with Jeremy Witt) of Bradley High School’s premier Contemporary A Cappella Group, Shades of Blue, who recently went viral on TikTok with over 350,000 views of their multiple arrangements of pop hits. 

Choirs under her direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings and Grand Championships at the District, State, and National Contest levels.  In June 2016, the MMS Choirs made their Carnegie Hall Debut as a part of the Songs of Inspiration and Hope Concert under the director of Mrs. Lori Loftus. Most recently, Ms. Burkett has been spurred to be a warrior for Social Justice within her community, and recently co-founded the Hilliard BIPOC Alliance, for her coworkers of color within the Hilliard City School District, working for change within and outside of their classrooms. 

In March 2020 (right before the world exploded), she was awarded the 2020 Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence, one of only 10 teachers from across the United States.  In October of 2021, she will travel to Nashville, Tennessee for the Gala Celebration of all the 2020 MTOEs.

Ms. Burkett maintains an active singing career, performing with professional ensembles around the city of Columbus.  She lives in Columbus with her daughter, Harper, and their cat, Phil. 

 

 

@biracialchoirunicorn

@shadesofblueacappella